Friday, April 15 2005 18:18 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Patna: Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) president Laloo Prasad today (Apr 15, 2005) charged the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) with trying to bribe the independent MLAs and Legislators belonging to smaller parties to secure their support to form a Government in Bihar and claimed an RJD-led secular Government will be installed in a month-and-a-half.

''The communal BJP is trying to buy the support of the MLAs. A whopping Rs 25 crore have arrived from Delhi, which are being used to lure the Independents and MLAs of smaller parties into backing the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) to form Government,'' Laloo said addressing party worker and leaders at a meeting to review the post-Assembly poll scenario.

He, however, asserted that the BJP's ''sinister designs'' would never succeed and claimed that a Government led by Rabri Devi would be in place in a-month-and-a-half.

'' With Sankranti festival over yesterday (Apr 14, 2005), we have begun our efforts for forming a Government led by Rabri Devi yesterday night. I am confident that our Government will be formed within 45 days'', he said.

Laloo, however, did not disclose which parties the RJD was in touch with to bring his endeavour to fruition

''We neither favour a prolonged stint of President's Rule and nor do we want our poor State to shoulder the burden of a snap poll and so we have initiated efforts for forming a secular Government,'' he said.

Stating that President's Rule was no substitute for a popular Government, Laloo said, "Knowing that central rule cannot benefit the common masses, my party with 75 MLAs, staked claim to form Government but, unfortunately, Rabri Devi was not invited (to form Government).''

Earlier, the meeting of RJD leaders of Patna division authorised Laloo Prasad to hold talks with like-minded parties for Government formation.

Peeved at his party's unimpressive showing at the hustings, the RJD chief attributed it to '' anti-party activities'' by some leaders and workers who, he said, would be identified soon and action would taken against them.

''There are people who want to become an MLA or MP overnight, as they want to profit from the local area development fund, the elected representatives have. Many of those denied tickets fought as Independents and lost and now they are ruing that RJD lost power. Those who used to put pressure on me for transfer of officials now get scared at the sight of a police jeep,'' a visibly angry Laloo said.

RJD chief accused the central para-military forces of having prevented Yadava and other weaker section voters from exercising their franchise which, he said, resulted in the ''not so impressive'' performance of his party in the Assembly elections.

He also charged the Election Commission with ''indirectly playing a role'' in RJD's poor showing by not involving Muslim officers in the conduct of polls at several places and order in repoll in areas dominated by Yadavas and Muslims, traditional voters of the RJD.