Tuesday, May 24 2005 12:43 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Ranthambore (Rajasthan): Brushing aside the Opposition ire on the Centre's action in Bihar, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today (May 24, 2005) said "horse-trading of the worst type" was taking place in the State and there was no other option but to dissolve the State Assembly.

Addressing a press conference at the end of his two-day visit to the Ranthambore tiger reserve, Singh said, "three months have passed since the elections were held. No Government has been formed in the State."

An atmosphere was created in which horse-trading of the worst type was taking place. In this situation, it is the constitutional duty of the Government to see that such nefarious practices do not spoil the good name of the country."

The Prime Minister said, "That is how the Governor of the State made the recommendation that there is no alternative but to dissolve the Assembly".

Pointing out that even newspapers had reported horse-trading on a large-scale in Bihar for the past many days, he said Governor Buta Singh had submitted more than one report on the situation in the State.

"So, I think, we had credible evidence that there is no other way to deal with this problem than by dissolving the Legislative Assembly," he said.