The ruling JD(U) on Sunday finalised its merger plan with the RJD of lalu Prasad and also charted out its own programmes. This was announced by former CM Nitish Kumar and State party chief Bashistha Narain Singh at a joint Press conference after the meeting of party office-bearers and heads of various cells.
“The merger plan has been endorsed unanimously,” the leaders announced. Nitish declared after the completion of his Sampark Yatra on December 30, he will now visit all the 243 Assembly constituencies starting from January 17 under the second phase of Samapark (contact) programme during which he will address public meetings. “The theme of my rallies will be governance and development with justice as well as to expose the Centre’s injustice, discrimination and ignoring the promises for Bihar,” said Nitish.
The former CM denied that lalu and RJD were not so serious and active to accelerate the merger process. “We all are active and unanimous in forging merger to take on communal and fascist forces. The finalisation of merger will have to be endorsed by the National executives of all the parties. The last meeting of all these parties was held in New Delhi at the residence of SP supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav and he was authorised to undertake merger process,” said Nitish but refused to give a deadline for merger. He, however, claimed that merger will be a smooth affair and there is no opposition from any quarter.
Both Nitish and State party chief denied that JD(U)’s programme will have any clash with RJD’s. “Our political programmes will only give strength to the merged parties,” said Singh and added that party has hailed the tireless efforts of Nitish for merger and expressed confidence that he Nitish will continue to provide leadership.
On the issue of the leadership of the merged parties, Nitish said it would be decided after the merger. The JD(U) leaders and functionaries are quite hopeful that the leadership will be unanimously handed over to Nitish since lalu is not keeping sound health and also debarred from contesting election by the order of the CBI court which convicted him in a fodder scam case last year.
The RJD has also decided to hold its political programmes though the focus will be almost the same as being raised by the JD(U). lalu said only the formality remains for the merger.
lalu also disclosed that West Bengal CM and TMC chief Mamata Banerjee has also agreed to support the struggle against the BJP-led Central Government. He made this claim after his telephonic talks with her on Saturday. “If she joins us we will get further strength inside and outside the Parliament in mounting pressure on the Government. She has also agreed to attend our meeting,” said lalu.