Sunday, May 22 2005 16:21 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Patna: Encouraged by the move by a section of LJP (Lok Janshakti Party) MLAs to support a JDU (Janata Dal United)-led Government against the wishes of their party chief Ram Vilas Paswan, the independent MLAs in Bihar's hung Assembly have also come out in support of a Nitish Kumar-led Government.

"All the 17 independent MLAs have already expressed their support for a Government under Nitish Kumar. With a majority of LJP MLAs coming out in favour of an anti-RJD (Rashtriya Janata Dal) Government, now nobody can stop formation of a Government under Kumar's Chief Ministership," independent MLA from Sonebarsa in Saharsa district Kishore Kumar Munna told PTI in Patna today (May 22, 2005).

Munna, claiming to be leading the pack of independents, said, "all the independents are in touch with each other and are of one view that a Government should be formed in Bihar under Nitish Kumar's leadership. In view of the latest political development many of us have reached Patna and others will also come to the State capital by tomorrow to speed up the process of formation."

"The efforts made by the independents for formation of a Government under Nitish Kumar is bearing fruits and nobody can now stop formation of a ministry under Kumar's Chief Ministership," Munna said.

Another independent MLA Vijendra Chaudhary suggested Paswan to climb-down from his "rigid" (anti-RJD, anti-BJP) stand and understand the feelings of his party MLAs who want formation of a Government under Nitish Kumar.

He further claimed that although mandate was fractured in the February polls but it was for formation of an anti-RJD Government "we all shall honour this mandate," he said adding no MLA was in favour of a snap poll.