Friday, April 8 2005 10:53 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: The deadlock over Government formation in Bihar is likely to figure prominently at the two-day National Executive meeting of Janata Dal United (JDU) beginning in New Delhi on Sunday (Apr 10, 2005).

The meeting, being held for the first time since the crucial Bihar and Jharkhand Assembly polls, assumes significance in the wake of senior party leader Nitish Kumar's efforts to cobble a non-BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party), non-RJD (Rashtriya Janata Dal) Government in the state placed under Central Rule last month following a fractured verdict.

At the party's recent brain-storming session at Rajgir in Bihar, where it reviewed the assembly poll outcome, the JDU resolved to make earnest efforts for formation of a non-RJD Government in Bihar.

After the meeting authorised Kumar, its Chief Ministerial candidate, to hold negotiations with parties which fought the Assembly elections on an anti-RJD plank, the JDU leader sent letters to LJP (Lok Janshakti Party), CPML (Communist Party of India-Marxist), CPI (Communist Party of India), SP (Samajwadi Party), NCP (Nationalist Congress Party) and BSP (Bahujan Samajwadi Party) seeking the support of 48 MLAs. He also approached 17 independent MLAs, support for Government formation.

Since JDU alone has 55 MLAs, the total would come to 120, just two short of simple majority.

But with LJP leader Ram Vilas Paswan sticking to his posture that JDU should first come out of BJP-led NDA (National Democratic Alliance), Kumar's efforts appeared to have come a cropper.

Against this backdrop, the JDU leaders are likely to evaluate the feedback of Kumar's efforts and ponder over the crucial question of whether it was ready to part with the saffron party to pave the way for installation of a popular Government in the State, a party insider told sources in New Delhi.

At the Rajgir session, Kumar had unveiled a 16-point Common Minimum Programme (CMP) including the salient features of the election manifestoes of parties, which went to polls vowing to bring an end to the 15-year RJD "misrule". The attempt was to woo the support of the parties.

The CMP laid particular emphasis on toning up the law and order situation within three months, improving the condition of minorities, dalits, women and other weaker sections, besides giving fresh impetus to education, healthcare, agriculture, road, power and industry.

Addressing the conclave called to discuss the election outcome and chalk out a strategy to speed up the process of Government-formation, Kumar had said since the CMP was an elaborate document addressing law and order problem and development issues, all anti-RJD parties committed to progress of the State should have no hesitation in coming to a common platform.