BBC News | SOUTH ASIA | Moves to end Bihar deadlock

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Wednesday, 1 March, 2000, 17:05 GMT

Moves to end Bihar deadlock

By Manikant Thakur in Patna

The governor of the Indian state of Bihar has begun efforts to end the political deadlock following the election of a hung state assembly.

On Wednesday, the governor, V C Pande, met rival contenders for power from the two main political parties - the Rashtriya Janata Dal and the National Democratic Alliance.

Meanwhile, the Chief Minister, Rabri Devi submitted her resignation in order to facilitate the formation of a new government.

First to call on the governor was federal minister and chief minister aspirant, Nitish Kumar.

Mr Kumar has been chosen leader of the National Democratic Alliance or NDA, which has won 122 seats in the new house.

The alliance which claims the support of another 24 legislators is still short of a majority.

But Mr Kumar said he was confident of mustering the required numbers if asked to form the government.

Soon after, leaders of the governing Rashtriya Janata Dal and its ally, the Communist Party (Marxist) paid a visit to the governor.

Chief Minister Rabri Devi and her husband, Laloo Yadav, said they should be invited to form the government since their party had emerged as the single largest party in the elections.

The party has 123 members, one more than the rival NDA.

It also has the support of two Communist Party legislators, taking its number to 125.

No party or alliance has got a clear majority in the state assembly which has 324.

The Congress party, which was routed in the elections, has 23 legislators in the new house.

But it has so far not disclosed its intentions.

Related to this story:
Guide to Indian state elections (11 Feb 00 | South Asia)
Analysis: Bihar's pivotal politician (26 Feb 00 | South Asia)
Congress trailing in state polls (25 Feb 00 | South Asia)
Seventeen die in election violence (22 Feb 00 | South Asia)
Eight dead in Bihar poll violence (17 Feb 00 | South Asia)
Death toll rises in Indian polls (11 Feb 00 | South Asia)
Analysis: Allies may hamper BJP (08 Oct 99 | South Asia)

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