Tuesday, April 5 2005 09:54 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Dehradun: Claiming that Janata Dal United (JDU) leader Nitish Kumar's efforts for Government formation in Bihar has "failed," Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader and Union Minister Raghuvansh Prasad Singh yesterday (Apr 4, 2005) claimed there is still some hope left for his party for ending the political deadlock in the State.

'Nitish's formula is an utter failure in Bihar," he said in an apparent reference to the JDU leader's bid for mobilising non-RJD forces for a coalition in the State.

"Only RJD can form a new Government," Singh, who is visiting Dehradun, told reporters.

He said that there were only two alternatives in Bihar politics today-either RJD should form Government or let there be fresh Assembly elections.

Asked whether Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) chief and Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan can still support RJD, Singh quipped, "At least he (Paswan) can abstain" (from confidence vote).

"But there is still some hope left as far as Government formation was concerned," he said.

Referring to the employment guarantee bill, Singh said the Government has referred it to a select committee and expressed the hope that it would be passed by Parliament very soon.