Paswan’s ‘no’ on paper, Laloo can’t add up yet

With Ram Vilas Paswan giving it in writing to the Bihar governor that his 29 MLAs would not support the RJD or the NDA in government formati...

With Ram Vilas Paswan giving it in writing to the Bihar governor that his 29 MLAs would not support the RJD or the NDA in government formation, the stalemate in Bihar is set to linger.

The day after the fractured verdict, the centre of all activities was Raj Bhawan. Chief Minister Rabri Devi met Governor Buta Singh to submit her resignation. RJD chief Laloo Yadav, who accompanied his wife, said his party would stake claim to form the government since ‘‘RJD is the single largest party and the RJD alliance is the single largest pre-poll alliance’’. Congress state president Ram Jatan Sinha also called on the Governor, charging the RJD with ‘‘intimidating’’ MLAs, and sought Singh’s intervention to protect the MLAs.

SP leader Dadan Pehlwan who also submitted a letter to the Governor, saying his four MLAs would not support the RJD or the BJP. Pehlwan later met Paswan and said he would support LJP in putting together a ‘‘non-RJD, non-BJP’’ government.

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The RJD chief, on the other hand, said the MLAs would elect their leader on Tuesday and he, along with ‘‘other UPA allies’’, would have the sufficient numbers for the new government. Asked whether he would seek support from the LJP, Yadav said: ‘‘You will come to know about it at an appropriate stage’’. Calling the imposition of President’s Rule ‘‘a mockery of democracy’’, the RJD chief said he already had 92 MLAs in his alliance. But he did not officially stake claim.

Meanwhile, BJP vice-president Sushil Modi said the NDA would write to the Governor on Tuesday, requesting him not to invite the RJD for forming the government . ‘‘We are watching the scenario and will stake claim when we feel confident of our majority,’’ Modi said.