A day after Janata Dal (United) president Sharad Yadav said the JD(U) and the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) would merge first in Bihar, he made a U-turn on Wednesday saying the merger would be formalised with all the six parties coming together in Delhi.
“The grand merger will be formalised with all six parties joining it in Delhi,” said RJD chief Lalu Yadav, participating in a social gathering organised by the State party chief on Makar Sankranti.
Mr. Prasad, who made arrangements for a feast at his residence, however, declared that the grand merger of all six parties would be officially announced by Mr. Mulayam Singh soon in Delhi. “The announcement has already been done, and Mulayam Singh ji will officially announce it soon. Should everybody keep on announcing it?” asked the RJD chief.
The JD(U) Rajya Sabha member and party spokesperson K C Tyagi said “next week some good news regarding the grand merger may come.”
“Merger of all old Janata Parivar parties will soon be a reality,” reiterated INLD leader Ajay Chautala, who attended the Makar Sankranti feast.
Several party leaders of the Janata Parivar attended feasts organised by State JD(U) president Basistha Narayan Singh and Mr. Prasad. However, senior JD(U) leader and former Chief Minister Nitish Kumar did not participate as he was indisposed, while Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi joined the banquets.
Reacting to State BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi’s statement that the merger was cold-shouldered by Mr. Mulayam Singh, Mr. Prasad shot back, “Has Sushil Kumar Modi left the BJP and become the spokesperson of Samajwadi Party?” making it clear that they [all the six socialist parties] were together.
Taking a dig at the Prime Minister’s Swacch Bharat Abhiyan, Mr. Prasad said the cleaning department was with the BJP and the people of India had given it the responsibility.
Mr. Modi also arranged a Makar Sankranti feast at his official residence.
