In an effort to give final shape to the proposed merger of the Janata Dal (U) and the RJD ahead of the grand unity of the Janata Parivar, RJD chief lalu Prasad and JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav and Nitish Kumar on Friday held deliberations here and rejected speculation that their meeting was to take a call on leadership change in Bihar.
The RJD and the JD(U) leaders are likely to have a meeting with Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav on Saturday here. “There is no talk about removing or not removing Jitan Ram Manjhi (as Bihar Chief Minister). Those who are not able to digest the coming together of the JD(U) and the RJD are spreading all this. It is being said that I am angry with Manjhi. Why should I be angryIJ I had not appointed him as Chief Minister. I have no anger towards any one,” Prasad said after meeting Kumar and JD-U President Sharad Yadav here.
Both Yadav and Kumar drove down to the residence of Prasad where they were closeted for nearly an hour. “Our meeting was to discuss the issue of the merger. I have discussed the merger plan with Nitish Kumar and Sharad Yadav. A number of issues are to be decided. What will be the common flag, common symbol and other issues. We may meet Mualayam Singh Yadavji on Saturday,” Prasad said. Another RJD leader Prem Gupta said that a rumour is being spread that lalu Prasad is angry with Manjhi, which has “no basis”. Nitish Kumar also met INlD chief Omprakash Chautala’s son Dushyant Chautala here.