Thursday, April 7 2005 15:32 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Bangalore: LJP (Lok Janshakti Party) leader Ram Vilas Paswan today (Apr 7, 2005) blamed JDU's (Janata Dal United) refusal to severe links with BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) as being a stumbling block responsible for delay in the formation of an elected Government in Bihar which is under President's rule.

"Prior to the elections, JDU had declared that it was prepared for any sacrifice to throw out RJD Government, but now it says it can't leave BJP. JDU is responsible for the delay in formation of a Government", Paswan told reporters in Bangalore.

The recent parleys JDU leader Nitish Kumar had with him to end the deadlock was held at the behest of BJP president L K Advani, he claimed.

Paswan asserted that it was possible to form a Government in Bihar without BJP and RJD but said he cannot be blamed, "If the State went to snap polls in the event of failure by political parties to come to a consensus over installing a popular Government".

In the same breathe, Paswan also expressed optimism that a Government will be formed before the expiry of the president's rule in six months.

Paswan, whose LJP has emerged as a key player in Government formation in Bihar after the Assembly polls threw up a fractured verdict, rejected a suggestion that he was adopting double standards, refusing to support RJD in Bihar while he worked with UPA (United Progressive Alliance) at the Centre in which RJD is also a partner.

Situation at the Centre and in the State was different. If elections are held in West Bengal, Congress and CPM (Communist Party of India) will fight separately, he pointed out.