Monday, March 7 2005 16:40 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Baharampur (WB): There is no alternative to President's Rule in Bihar in the present political scenario, Defence Minister, Pranab Mukherjee said in Baharampur today (March 7, 2005).

The term of 12th Bihar Assembly was upto March 7 and before that the vote-on-account would have to be passed in the Assembly. Now there was no scope of passing the vote-on-account in the Assembly as no party had the required majority to form a new Government, Mukherjee told mediapersons here.

Replying to a question, Defence Minister said that the RJD (Rashtriya Janata Dal) chief and Railway Minister Laloo Prasad had contacted him urging for holding fresh elections in Bihar.

The veteran Congress leader said that this was not possible immediately as it required the approval of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.

Mukherjee who had earlier laid the foundation stone of a bridge over the river Bhairab at Gandharghat here, under his parliamentary constituency, said that he would leave for Delhi this evening to attend an urgent meeting on Bihar political situation.