The Socialist Janata (Democratic) [SJ(D)] , a constituent of the United Democratic Front, merged with the Sharad Yadav-led Janata Dal (United) [JD(U)] at a meeting here on Sunday.
Mr. Yadav handed over the JD(U) flag to M.P. Veerendrakumar, the party’s new State unit president. Mr. Yadav said that socialist parties should come together to save the country.
Unity at national levelFormer Chief Minister of Bihar Nitish Kumar said that discussions were on at the national level for a larger unity of forces opposed to divisive politics.
“The unity of Samajwadi Party, Rashtriya Janata Dal, Janata Dal (Secular), Samajwadi Janata Dal, and Indian National Lok Dal will happen one day. There is no time frame set for this. But we are working in this direction,” he said.
He said the Narendra Modi government had not fulfilled its electoral promises.
BJP criticised“The BJP has not honoured its promise of bringing back to the country Indian black money in foreign banks, supporting farmers, and creating more jobs for youth. A BJP leader called Nathuram Godse a patriot and the government has not responded. There is also no clarity on the government’s position on mass conversion,” he said.
Political alignmentHe said there should be no confusion over the JD(U)’s political alignment in Kerala after the merger.
“The SJ(D) was part of the UDF and Janata Dal (Secular) is with the Left. One will cross the bridge when one comes to it. Then the political alignment will be evaluated,” he said.
Bihar Minister for Food Shyam Rajak, JD(U) vice president M.P. Nadagouda, general secretaries Arun Srivastava and Javed Raza, and Minister for Agriculture K.P. Mohanan were present.
The JD(U) was formed on October 30, 2003, with the merger of the Sharad Yadav faction of the Janata Dal, Lokshakti Party and the Samata Party.
A section of the Janata Dal (Secular) in Kerala, led by Mr. Veerendrakumar, launched the SJ(D) on August 7, 2010.
In LDF till 2009Until 2009, the Kerala unit of the Janata Dal (S) was a part of the CPI (M)-led Left Democratic Front. Cracks developed in the CPI(M)-JD(S) ties in 2008.
The CPI(M) did not give the JD(S) a ticket to contest the Kozhikode parliamentary constituency in the 2009 elections. An enraged section of the JD(S) State unit pledged support to the UDF.
