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Congress will join Rabri government

The Congress on Monday decided to join the Rabri Devi government in Bihar, and suggested an eight-point minimum common programme for the coalition.

Emerging from a two-and-a-half hour Congress Working Committee meeting, senior party leader Pranab Mukherjee said the details, including the size of the cabinet and the number of Congress ministers, would be worked out after Rabri Devi wins the mandate of the House.

The Rashtriya Janata Dal leader will seek a vote of confidence on March 16.

Mukherjee said the party decided to join the Rashtriya Janata Dal government as it felt that by supporting from outside it would not be able to participate or influence the government's decision-making.

Even the Pachmarhi declaration had made it clear that the party could enter into coalitions if there was a fractured mandate or no party was having a clear majority, he replied to a question.

Asked whether there would be a deputy chief minister, he said all such details would be decided at the time of the cabinet formation.

He said the CWC decision was unanimous and that 17 of its members were present at the meeting, which was a continuation of the one on March 11.

Asked whether the Congress would agree to the RJD stand that the Central Bureau of Investigation should be kept out of the state, he said the CBI was established by the law of the land and it could work within the legal framework.

According to the minimum programme, serious efforts would be made to provide a corruption-free administration. Technocrats of high calibre would be appointed as ministers of finance, power and agriculture.

Besides, the Congress would continue to agitate for the creation of Jharkhand state, an expert group would be set up for the speedy implementation of land reforms, infrastructure, industrial and finance commissions would be established, and a co-ordination committee constituted to monitor the implementation of the common minimum programme.

The general body of the Congress in Parliament too met Monday and discussed the party's stand on the Budget. Former finance minister Dr Manmohan Singh initiated the debate. The discussions are scheduled to continue.

UNI

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