Sunday, April 3 2005 15:51 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Patna: Majority of the independent MLAs in Bihar have welcomed Janata Dal United (JDU) leader Nitish Kumar's initiative to form a non-Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) Government in the State and extended support to the move.

Independent MLA from Sonebarsa in Saharsa district, Kishore Kumar Munna said, "I had talks with around 15 independents after getting the common minimum programme (CMP) and letter from Kumar and all responded positively to the move."

Besides sending copies of CMP prepared by JDU to six non-RJD parties, including the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP), Kumar had yesterday (Apr 2, 2005) sent the same to 17 independents inviting them to start negotiations for forming a non-RJD Government in the State.

Independent MLA from Muzaffarpur Vijendra Chaudhary also said that he received the CMP as well a personal letter from Kumar. Chaudhary said that he had talks with Kumar for formation of a Government in Bihar "to check crime and take the State to the path of development".

Welcoming Kumar's initiative, Chaudhary said that independent MLAs want a non-RJD Government to be formed without wasting time.

He said that Kumar's latest move had taken care of LJP president Ram Vilas Paswan's concern of keeping off Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and hence nobody including Paswan should have problems in the Government formation.

Munna and Chaudhary said that very soon not less than 15 independent MLAs would meet in Patna "to play an active role in support of the JDU leader's exercise to form a Government".