The JD(U) is giving a final shape to the proposed merger of Ajit Singh’s Rashtriya lok Dal (RlD) before the Uttar Pradesh Assembly election and charting out its role in the election in West Bengal, Assam and Kerala. The party is interested to contest polls in those States in alliance with like-minded parties.
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar with other senior JD(U) leaders on Saturday held discussion on these issues at a State-level working committee meeting held at his residence and told the office-bearers about the party’s strategy for the expansion of the organisation to other poll-bound States.
The JD(U) has almost identified nine seats in Kerala and eight in Assam and likely to fight two seats in West Bengal, party sources said.
The talks with the RlD are in final stage and merger could be announced very soon. Chaudhary Ajit Singh called on Nitish in New Delhi last week and his son and son-in-law met the CM here a day before Holi. The Chaudharys have made it clear that they are interested to merge their party with the JD(U) in order to give BJP a befitting reply in the 2017 summer election.
“Nitish has emerged as a role model across the country and his popularity and acceptability is growing. He is seen as a force to stop BJP,” said JD(U) general secretary KC Tyagi.
The Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (JVM) led by former Jharkhand Chief Minsiter Babulal Marandi is also expected to merge with the JD(U). Sources said the JD(U) is seriously considering to change its election symbol from arrow to banyan tree which earlier was symbol Sanjukta Socialist Party. “Talks with the RlD and the JVM are going on in right direction and positive results will come out,” commented Bihar JD(U) president Bashistha Narain Singh.
In the reorganised JD(U), Sharad Yadav is likely to be retained as president while Ajit Singh may be appointed chairman of parliamentary board. Similarly, Marandi may be made party’s national vice-president. There is also speculation that Ajit Singh could be send to the Rajya Sabha from Bihar.
Prior to the merger declaration, Nitish is expected to tour some parts of UP along with Ajit Singh and hold rallies in a few towns — including Meerut, lakhimpur Kheri, Basti, Barabanki and Varanasi.