Sir — Despite several declarations and photo-ops, the Janata merger may well turn out to be an idea whose time has not yet come. The RJD-Janata Dal(U) tie-up will be formidable but Mr Nitish Kumar and lalu Prasad have long been bitter rivals. There are already indications that the alliance will run into a major roadblock. The RJD’s Raghuvansh Prasad Singh has hinted that Mr Nitish Kumar was not a “good candidate” for the Chief Minister’s post.
lalu Prasad is barred from contesting elections and holding public office, but he now seems to be harbouring chief ministerial ambitions again. He reportedly said that like Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, who governed by proxy after being convicted on corruption charges and is now back in the top job after her conviction was overturned, he too can be the boss again. Mr Nitish Kumar may be hoping that Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi’s new political avatar may help the combine and has indicated that he may invite the Congress to join the alliance.