Let Paswan join JD-U first: Nitish

A major part of JD(U)’s resolution at their two-day national executive today dealt with the UPA and Sonia Gandhi, and the ‘‘witchhunt’’ against former Defence minister George Fernandes. The party plans to take out rallies as part of a nationwide protest programme. ‘‘The JD(U) condemns this despicable behaviour of the Congress, which has done irreparable harm to the morale of our defence forces,’’ the resolution stated. It also slammed Paswan for his stand on Bihar. ‘‘The LJP’s negative approach to government formation deserves to be condemned…The national executive is confident the party will soon form a government in Bihar,’’ it read.

Paswan today met Sonia as part of his efforts to seek support of like-minded parties to form a government in Bihar, sources said. Last week, he had met CPI general secretary A.B. Bardhan and NCP president Sharad Pawar separately.

Meanwhile, at a function to rename Bidupur railway station after socialist leader Akshaywat Rai in former CM Rabri Devi’s Raghopur constituency, RJD chief Laloo Prasad Yadav said a snap poll was the only way out of the Bihar deadlock. Mocking Nitish’s efforts to form a government with the help of the LJP and other anti-RJD parties, Laloo said: ‘‘The JD(U) tried to enter into a mismatched marriage just to keep the RJD away from power, but as expected, it broke off before being solemnised.’’