Sunday, May 22 2005 08:08 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Expressing serious concern over allegations of horse-trading of MLAs in Bihar, Congress yesterday (May 21, 2005) urged Governor Buta Singh and Union Home Minister to take every possible steps to check such "undemocratic purchases."

"Governor himself has been saying that he has definite information that horse-trading and purchasing of MLAs are being undertaken in Bihar to form a Government. He must have informed the Home Minister Shivraj Patil in this regard.

"They will take steps possible not to allow this kind of horse-trading, which demeans public life and democratic practices", chairperson of AICC's (All India Congress Committee) media department Ambika Soni told reporters when asked to comment on the developments in Bihar.

Congress has turned down Lok Janashakti Party (LJP) chief Ramvilas Paswan's proposal asking it to form a Government headed by a Muslim.

Soni said the party had already given a letter of support to Laloo Prasad led RJD (Rashtriya Janata Dal) in this regard and there was no change in its stand.

Singh, who had a 30-minute meeting with Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil today, is understood to have apprised him about the developments and later told reporters that he was keeping a constant watch on the situation and would intervene at the "right moment".