New Delhi, Jan 21: Opposing the merger of Samata Party with Janata Dal (United), rebel Samata leaders today said their party "very much survives" and that Lok Sabha member Brahmanand Mandal was the President. "The Samata Party very much survives with its symbol," newly-appointed party spokesman L N Chanchal said here in a release adding that the Samata Party national executive has elected Mandal as President at its meeting on January 18. He said before then Samata Party chief George Fernandes decided to join JD(U), there was no consultation with the state units of the party. Since the two MPs, the other being Raghunath Jha, and three Bihar MLAs could not remain a silent spectator to these developments, they called an emergency meeting under Mandal's chairmanship and elected him president and also authorised him to reconstitute the national executive and state units.

He said the election commission has been duly informed about the decision.

Meanwhile, Mandal has appointed N K Singh as the chairman of the party's parliamentary board and Chanchal as general secretary and spokesman, the release added.
Bureau Report