Sunday, April 3 2005 13:52 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: As part of efforts to cobble a non-RJD (Rashtriya Janata Dal) and non-BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) Government in Bihar, senior JDU (Janata Dal United) leader Nitish Kumar held talks with BJP President L K Advani to apprise him of the exercise.

Declining to divulge what transpired between him and Advani last night (Apr 2, 2005), Kumar told sources in New Delhi today (Apr 3, 2005) that along with 48 MLAs from the six parties and 17 Independents, JDU which alone had 55 MLAs could reach a total of 120, two short of a simple majority in the 243-member House.

The six parties are Ram Vilas Paswan's LJP (Lok Janshakti Party) with 29 MLAs, CPML (Communist Party of India Marxist-Leninist)- 7, SP (Samajwadi Party)- 4, NCP (Nationalist Congress Party) and CPI (Communist Party of India) three each and BSP (Bahujan Samajwadi Party) two.

Kumar is also understood to have held talks with Samajwadi Party President Mulayam Singh Yadav to seek support of his four MLAs.

Kumar yesterday attended a breakfast meeting hosted by Bihar SP chief Daddan Pahalwan in Patna where Paswan was also present.

He had also sent copies of the Common Minimum Programme prepared by his party to six political parties and 17 Independent MLAs and sought their support in forming a Government to bring to an end President's rule in the State.

Paswan, who holds the key to Government formation, has virtually poured cold water on Kumar's hopes by remaining firm on not taking inside or outside support of either the BJP or the NCP.