Deputy Prime Minister Lal Kishenchand Advani on Thursday said the situation in Bihar does not warrant imposition of President's rule.
Addressing a press conference in Patna where his Bharat Uday Yatra arrived on Wednesday, Advani said poor quality of governance alone is not reason enough to impose President's rule. "Several other factors must be taken into account...," he said.
The deputy prime minister was answering questions about statements made by Defence Minister George Fernandes and some others that imposition of President's rule in Bihar was a distinct possibility if the National Democratic Alliance returns to power at the Centre.
Advani said the response to his yatra in Bihar has been overwhelming. "It's an indication that the people here are fed up with the Rabri Devi government's poor performance," he added.
Criticising the state government for ignoring the state's development, he said the people do not even have the basic facilities and that is a monumental failure on the part of a party that has been in power for close to 14 years in one form or the other.
On the demand for banning opinion and exit polls, Advani said his government would consider promulgation of an ordinance if the Election Commission so demanded.
Advani entered Bihar on Wednesday from Uttar Pradesh at Bathnakuti in Gopalganj district. His yatra will pass through Gopalganj, Motihari, Muzaffarpur, Vaishali, Patna, Jehanabad, Gaya and Nawada districts before entering Chhattisgarh.