Saturday, May 21 2005 17:26 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Patna: Dealing a blow to the Lok Janshakti Party ( LJP), its National Secretary General and former Union Minister Nagmani today (May 21, 2005) resigned from its primary membership and claimed a revolt by its Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) was imminent due to the "obduracy" of party chief Ramvilas Paswan on the issue of supporting the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in Government formation in Bihar.

He, however, maintained that at present there was no revolt and dismissed as "rumor" reports that a sizeable number of Lok Janshakti Party's (LJP) flock of 29 MLAs were in Jamshedpur to explore the possibility of installation of a popular Government in Bihar.

"I have resigned from the post and primary membership of the party as Paswan's obduracy is coming in the way of formation of a non- Rashtriya Janata Dal ( RJD) Government led by Janata Dal (U)leader Nitish Kumar," he told reporters.

Asked how many MLAs were with him Nagmani, whose wife Suchitra Sinha is the LJP MLA from Kurtha, said "at present not even my wife. But almost every MLA is disillusioned and they will revolt to facilitate formation of a non-RJD government."

He said the MLAs had only two options--either to go for a snap polls, which they did not want as LJP would be routed in such an event, or to help in formation of a Government. "No self respecting MLA will like to continue in LJP as the party is the stumbling block in formation of a non-RJD Government for which the people of Bihar have given the mandate," he said.

Slamming Paswan for his statement that forming a Government was not his priority, Nagmani said Paswan had created a situation where fresh elections would become unavoidable which the people of the state and the MLAs did not want.

Nagmani said he had asked Paswan, after his formula envisaging a Congress-led Government with a Muslim Chief Minister and RJD lending outside support was rejected by both the Congress and the RJD, that he should back a Nitish Kumar-led Government with outside support from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

"When Paswan, who had earlier declared he would not take even outside support from RJD can soften his stand why can't he soften his position vis-a-vis BJP which has consistently opposed Lalu-Rabri regime for 15 long years," he said.

Nagmani said he personally felt that Paswan was a "very good and farsighted leader but he is playing into the hands of his MLA brother Pashupati Kumar Paras and is running the party like a private limited company. He has taken all wrong decisions regarding Government formation in Bihar."

"For me the state and its people come first than any leader," he said declaring that only a Nitish Kumar-led Government can be formed in Bihar and even "Laloo Prasad understands this.

Nagmani said RJD President Lalu Prasad telephoned him after he came to know that he had left the party and said "bahut achcha kiya ki Paswan ko chhor diya (you did well to leave Paswan)."

"I, however, told him that make no mistake that I am going to join you. My commitment is towards installation of a non-RJD Government. People have given a mandate against your party and I respect their mandate," he said.

Taking exception to the charge by Governor Buta Singh that horse trading was going on for formation of a Government, Nagmani said, "MLAs are not like commodities which can be bought and sold. Those who speak like this are insulting the people and their representatives."

"With all humility I suggest the Governor not to make any statement which is not in keeping with his high office," he said.

Asked when he would join the JD(U), Nagmani said he would consult his supporters before taking a decision on joining any party.