In a bid to revive a united socialist political bloc, moves are on to merge the JD(U) and Ajit Singh’s Rashtriya Lok Dal with some smaller parties.
In a bid to revive a united socialist political bloc, moves are on to merge the JD(U) and Ajit Singh’s Rashtriya Lok Dal with some smaller parties. This comes after the failed attempt to unite all Janata outfits last year.
In a renewed effort, Bihar CM Nitish Kumar held talks with the leaders of other parties. Mr Kumar presided over a meeting attended by JD(U) president Sharad Yadav, RLD chief Ajit Singh and his son Jayant Choudhary at the residence of JD(U) Rajya Sabha MP K.C. Tyagi. Political strategist Prashant Kishor, an adviser to Mr Kumar, also attended this meeting. Sources said it was decided to seek the merger of the JD(U), RJD, Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (Prajtantrik) and Samajwadi Janata Party.
Mr Kumar hopes to play a larger role in the coming UP Assembly polls early next year. The meeting at Mr Tyagi’s residence deliberated on modalities of such a merger.
Sources said Mr Kumar was holding talks with JVM(P) chief and former Jharkhand CM Babulal Marandi on the roadmap for a merged political outfit. Mr Marandi had cut off ties with the BJP and floated a regional outfit. Both the JD(U) and RJD have sizeable influence in Jharkhand.
