Janata Parivar leaders (from left) Samajwadi Party leader Mulayam Singh Yadav, JD (S) leader Deve Gowda, JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav, RJD leader Lalu Prasad and former Bihar CM Nitish Kumar during a meeting in New Delhi on Thursday. Photo: V. Sudershan, The Hindu
New Delhi: The merger of parties belonging to the erstwhile Janata Parivar is likely to occur following a meeting between them at the residence of SP chief Mulayam Singh’s residence here on Thursday.
With an aim of forming an effective counterweight to the Narendra Modi-led BJP, leaders of the Janata Parivar such as Sharad Yadav, Lalu Prasad Yadav, H. D. Deve Gowda and Nitish Kumar met at a luncheon.
JD(U) boss Nitish Kumar told reporters that the splinter groups of the 1970s have now decided on unity. “This meeting decided on our unity. In future, we can move from unity to merger into one party,” he told reporters.
The parties have decided on a common stance and agenda to take on the government in Parliament, identifying BJP’s alleged U-turn on black money, employment for youths and farm prices as matters of concern.
While the meeting did not take up the issue of allying with the Congress, Kumar said there was discussion about approaching regional parties such as Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee.
Besides the key leaders, Dushyant Chautala (INLD), Ramgopal Yadav, Shiv Gopal Yadav(SP), KC Tyagi (JDU), Kamal Morarka (SJP) and Preemchand Gupta(RJD ) were also present at Thursday’s meeting.
The Left, meanwhile, has welcomed the decision by the social parties to unite. “They witnessed more divisions…we will work on key issues,” CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury said.
