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RJD will sit in Opposition if efforts to thwart BJP fail

Laloo Prasad Yadav today said if all efforts for the installation of a ''secular'' government at the Centre fail, ''We would be content to sit in the Opposition benches and evolve a floor strategy.''

Talking to newspersons soon after being elected as leader of the RJD parliamentary group, Yadav said he had already offered unconditional support to the Congress, United Front or any secular entity. He said his party was prepared to make any sacrifice in order to prevent the BJP from coming to power.

Yadav said if the BJP succeeds in forming a government, his 17 MPs along with one from the Rashtriya Janata Party, would "stand as a rock before it" both inside and outside Parliament. The BJP will not find it smooth sailing, he added.

Yadav said he would leave no stone unturned for the formation of a ''secular government'' at the Centre. There have been perennial differences among the constituents of the United Front, besides inner contradictions, but efforts were on to sort them out at the earliest in the overall interest of the nation, he added.

Yadav said he was in touch with all UF leaders, besides those of the Congress, and expressed the hope that a tangible solution may be found at Tuesday's meeting of the UF core group. He said he had spoken to UF convener and Telugu Desam Party leader N Chandrababu Naidu on the phone.

About the apprehensions that the Rabri Devi governnment in Bihar might be dismissed if the BJP comes to power at the Centre, Yadav said, ''No power on earth can dismiss a popularly elected government and the Rabri Devi government has the support of the masses in that state.''

Asked what he would do in case the President invites the BJP to form a government, Yadav said, ''Our party will play the role of an Opposition effectively till the dismissal of the BJP government.''

UNI

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Laloo ready to push any 'secular' force to power

Elections '98

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