Friday, May 27 2005 14:53 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Bhuntar (Kullu): Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee today (May 27, 2005) criticised the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government for dissolving the Bihar Assembly saying it had thwarted the possibility of formation of popular Government in the State.

Refuting the allegations of trading of MLAs, Vajpayee said that if there was any trading of MLAs it should have been stopped by the Government and dissolution of the Assembly "under the pretext was not right".

There was scope of formation of popular Government in Bihar but the dissolution had thwarted such a possibility, he told reporters on his arrival at Bhuntar airport near Kullu.

Vajpayee expressed hope that National Democratic Alliance (NDA) consisting of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Janata Dal United (JDU) will form the Government in Bihar after fresh elections.

Chiding those "trying to dislodge" Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi by "undemocratic means", he said they should know that public opinion was with him.

Vajpayee said that those people who had failed to defeat Modi through valid means are trying such tactics like appointing a committee to prove State Government's role in post Godhra riots.

About one-year rule of UPA Government, he said it has failed to perform. The UPA Government should speed-up the development work started by NDA Government and also take up new works, he added.

Vajpayee said he was waiting for last one year for the UPA Government to do something adding it should formulate good policies and "continue good work done by us".