Sunday, April 10 2005 17:30 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: The strained relations between JDU and LJP on Government formation in Bihar today (Apr 10, 2005) hit a new low with Ram Vilas Paswan charging NDA with trying to poach on his 29 MLAs and hitting back at Nitish Kumar, describing him as a "hurdle" in the way of installation of a popular Government.

"Attempts were made to lure my MLAs. They were approached by NDA (National Democratic Alliance), but they are united like rock and nobody could break them," Paswan told a press conference in New Delhi within hours of JDU (Janata Dal United) president George Fernandes holding the LJP (Lok Janshakti Party) chief responsible for the failure in cobbling together a Government.

Hitting out at Kumar for trying to project him as a spoilsport, Paswan said the JDU leader was a "hurdle" in the exercise. The day Kumar opts out of the race for the Chief Minister's post and JDU parts ways with BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party), a popular Government will be formed, he said.

"But, people who declare themselves as Chief Ministerial candidates get worried and seek support from others," he said, clarifying afresh that he was not in the race for the top job.

"I have always said the post should go to a Muslim, irrespective of his party affiliation," he said when asked if he would accept JDU MLA Monazir Hassan for the post.

Paswan said Kumar was "nobody" in the party and he had not held any political consultations with the JDU leader when they met at a social function at the residence of Bihar SP chief Dadan Pahelwan recently.

Paswan said JDU president George Fernandes had made it clear that his party would not leave BJP by attending a conference of the saffron party, which raised the Hindutva and Ram temple issues.

The LJP chief accused Kumar of riding two boats by talking of secularism on one hand, and continuing relations with BJP-led NDA. He said JDU MP Prabhunath Singh had come to meet him but declined to divulge any details.

NDA's Chief Ministerial candidate Nitish Kumar had yesterday withdrawn his initiative to form a Government in Bihar accusing Paswan of "ditching" him.

Saying that he was in no hurry to cobble together a Government in the State, Paswan said people were happy under President's rule.

"Its just a month of President's Rule in the State. People are happy," he claimed.