The grand merger of the Janata Parivar does not seem to be taking off anytime soon with the outfits now differing on RJD chief lalu Prasad’s advocacy for the inclusion of former Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi in the united fold to fight against the BJP.
The meeting of the principal constituents of the Parivar — SP, JD (U) and RJD — convened at the residence of SP supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav to iron out the differences, turned out to be a fiasco.
Firstly, it saw the Bihar CM keeping away from the meeting despite present in the Capital and secondly, JD(U) president Sharad Yadav exiting from the midst of meeting probably annoyed by lalu’s proposal to rope in Manjhi, a detractor of Nitish in recent times.
Sources said lalu made the proposal during the meeting, which was in fact called to remove irritants in the way of a merger before the Bihar polls due later this year. While JD(U) is pushing for a quick formalisation of the merger of the six Janata Parivar offshoots, which was announced last month, the SP and the RJD are having second thoughts.
While the SP believes it has little to gain from any such merger with many of its leaders fearing a loss of stature in the new party, lalu apprehends Kumar will steal a march over him in Bihar despite his party having a much bigger support base than the JD(U).
The first strong signal of the merger not fructifying had come a few days ago when SP National General Secretary Ram Gopal Yadav declared that it was not possible before the Bihar Assembly polls due to “technicalities” involved and any move taken in a hurry would amount to signing the “death warrant” of his own party.
lalu, however, claimed that attempts were being made for the unity and brushed aside reports that Nitish was unhappy with the recent turn of events. “I have no differences with anybody,” lalu said talking to the reporters. As for Nitish’s absence, JD(U) leaders said he has undergone a minor eye surgery and was recuperating.
lalu, nevertheless, attacked the BJP over the celebration of noted Bihar poet Ramdhari Singh Dinkar’s works, saying it was a political move, a reference to the ruling party’s attempt to woo the influential Bhumihars, the poet’s caste. “Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaks about shedding casteism, while BJP holds rallies of all castes in Bihar. They have nothing to show after one year in power,” he said.
In the meantime, expelled RJD MP Pappu Yadav rejected speculation of a tie-up with BJP and pitched for a Third Front against NDA as well as lalu Prasad-led RJD in poll-bound Bihar. He said that he was for an alliance of Congress, the left, Manjhi and his newly-floated Jan Kranti Adhikar Morcha.