Saturday, May 28 2005 10:05 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Congress was for formation of a broad-based secular front in Bihar to humble the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in the coming Assembly polls but would desist from issuing any invitation to any party to join such an endeavour.

"There is no question of inviting any party...Our approach is for a larger, broad-based secular front. Our attempt in the first round was also the same," party spokesman Abhishek Singhvi told reporters.

He stated this when asked about Lok Janashakti Party (LJP) chief Ram Vilas Paswan's statement that his party would think of joining such a front if extended an invitation. He said the Congress considers the LJP as part of the secular front.

Asked about the differences between the Laloo Prasad-led Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and LJP, he said that these were internal matters for these parties while the Congress endeavour is for a secular front.

To a query about the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) Government filing a chargesheet against Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) chief M Karunanidhi in a two-year-old case, he hoped that Chief Minister Jayalalithaa would not indulge in "politics of vendetta" as in the past.

On Kerala, he said that the Congress would be contesting the Assembly seat of A K Antony who has now moved to Rajya Sabha, whenever a by-poll is held and dismissed any challenge from the party led by K Karunakaran in such an election.