Monday, May 23 2005 12:28 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Describing the dissolution of Bihar Assembly as "murder of democracy and fraud on Constitution," the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) today (May 23, 2005) demanded holding of elections in the State at the earliest.

A meeting of top NDA leaders chaired by former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee also decided to postpone for tomorrow (May 24, 2005) bringing out a list of United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government's failures.

"We discussed the circumstances in Bihar. It is a murder of democracy and fraud on the Constitution. We want polls at the earliest," Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) deputy leader in the Lok Sabha V K Malhotra told reporters after an hour-long meeting at Vajpayee's residence in New Delhi.

The BJP also described as a "shameless murder of democracy" the decision to dissolve the Bihar Assembly.

"People have rejected Laloo-Rabri rule. But now, it will not be Rashtrapati rule, but 'Rabripati' (Laloo Prasad) rule again. This is shameless murder of democracy," BJP vice President M Venkaiah Naidu told reporters in New Delhi

The NDA sources said the alliance has decided to go to the public against the dissolution of the Bihar Assembly, besides exploring legal options.

The agitation programme may include demonstrations, a Bihar bandh and even parading its legislators before Governor Buta Singh or President A P J Abdul Kalam when he returns from his 14-day foreign tour, they said.

The sources said the alliance decided to press for early elections, as it would not be possible to hold elections in the State during monsoon.

The hour-long meeting was attended among others by NDA Convenor George Fernandes, BJP President L K Advani, NTC leader Dinesh Trivedi and IFDP leader PC Thomas, BJD's B J Panda and senior BJP leaders Sushma Swaraj, V K Malhotra and Arun Jaitley.

Malhotra said Vajpayee, Advani and other top leaders of Opposition alliance would address a press conference later in the day to outline NDA's strategy on Bihar.

All issues have been superseded by Bihar developments, National Trinamool Congress leader Dinesh Dwivedi told sources.