On his return from Delhi after the formal announcement of the merger of Janata Parivar outfits, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Thursday said here now he was a satisfied person. "I am relieved after six months of efforts. Now it is up to new party president Mulayam Singh Yadav and presidents of five other constituents to finalise party's name, symbol and flag. My job is over," he said in an informal talk with this reporter in his Assembly chamber.
Defending only the announcement of the merger and not the name of the party, he said, "Entire process cannot be completed in a single day. Making a new party is not an easy task. After all this political development will remain in the news for days to come," he said and thanked the BJP, in a sarcastic manner though, for giving much publicity to the merger which he said showed the saffron party's frustration.
He said the merger has become favourite topic for all the BJP leaders from Delhi to Patna and this was giving the new party good publicity. "BJP is really very worried. They had been making fun of the merger till the other day but the new development will be the beginning of their elimination," Nitish added.
Nitish refused to accept that the merger of the erstwhile Janata Parivar parties would only have impact in Bihar since it is the only State where two parties are involved. "This development will have big political impact across the country, not merely in Bihar. It will be a major force and strong alternative," he claimed.
The CM said almost all aspects of the merger including name, flag and symbol are decided and the presidents of the merging parties would discuss and finalise it in consultation with the Mulayam Singh Yadav in due course.
Reacting to allegations hurled by former CM Jitan Ram Manjhi almost everyday accusing him, Nitish said his statements have become butt of joke and providing comic relief to the people. Commenting on the claim of Manjhi that Dalit and Mahadalit have deserted Nitish, the CM said so far the leaders and workers of that section of the society have not deserted him and the mood of the voters would be known only in the election.
In the Assembly, the RJD MlAs greeted him saying now he was the leader of the newly formed legislature party. However, leader of Opposition Nand Kishore Yadav in a statement wanted to know the name of the ruling party in Bihar. Calling the leaders of the JD(U) and the RJD opportunists, Yadav said they have merged out of fear of the BJP but how they would escape the wrath of the public.