Saturday, April 9 2005 19:07 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: A two-day National Executive meeting of JDU (Janata Dal United) starting in New Delhi tomorrow (Apr 10, 2005) is likely to debate the party's future course of action in Bihar even as its senior leader Nitish Kumar said he was abandoning efforts to form Government.

The meeting, being held in the backdrop of the deadlock over Government formation in the State, assumes significance following Kumar's surprise announcement in Patna that he was pulling out of efforts to form a popular Government in view of Paswan's "intransigence" over taking support from non-RJD (Rashtriya Janata Dal) parties.

With top party leadership meeting here, the issue is expected to hog the limelight and intense debate will be held on strategies to be adopted, party sources said adding Kumar will explain the feedback from various parties and independent MLAs to his efforts to cobble together a non-RJD and non-BJP (Bharatiya Janata Dal) Ministry.

Party sources said Kumar's announcement came as a surprise to many top leaders as well since 15 of the 17 independent MLAs had pledged their support to the JDU leader.

However, the move is being viewed in political circles as a tactical decision to expose Paswan who, they said, started the blame game holding JDU responsible for the impasse by not severing ties with BJP and help in Government formation.