Sunday, May 1 2005 19:45 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Patna: LJP (Lok Janshakti Party) today (May 1, 2005) set in motion an exercise, to install a Government minus RJD and BJP in Bihar by forming a seven-member panel led by its leader and former Rajya Sabha member, Ranjan Prasad Yadav to work out a formula within a week in consultation with the like-minded parties to cobble together a majority in the 243-member State Assembly.

The party having 29 MLAs met in Patna today at the residence of its Lok Sabha member and national general secretary Surajbhan Singh and discussed the Government formation issue.

LJP president Ramvilas Paswan also attended the meeting.

Emerging from the meeting, Paswan said the seven-member party committee would discuss with the like-minded parties, including the Congress, CPI (Communist Party of India), CPM (Communist Party of India-Marxist), Samajwadi Party and others to form a popular Government to bring curtains on the President's rule.

Reiterating that it would be "a minus RJD (Rashtriya Janata Dal) and minus BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) Government", the LJP leader said the MLAs decided not to make any compromise on the issues which formed the basis for launching the party.

Asked whether his party would also approach the JDU (Janata Dal United) which had abruptly abandoned the exercise for Government formation charging him (Paswan) with betraying its leader Nitish Kumar, he said "we are still adamant on our earlier stand. We want the JDU part company with the BJP first and then only, the party will be roped in the exercise."

LJP legislature party leader Ramashray Prasad Sigh said though the MLAs mounted pressure on Paswan for becoming Chief Minister the latter declined to accept it. "Our preference will be a Muslim taking over as new Chief Minister," he said.