New Delhi, Aug 04: The move for merger of Janata Dal (United) into Janata Dal (Secular) in Karnataka today suffered a setback with Union Minister and JD(U) chief Sharad Yadav coming out openly against it. Virtually throwing a spanner into the formal merger slated later this month, Yadav told newspersons here that the decision taken by state JD(U) chief N Thippanna and the party's lone MLA P G R Sindhia was "illegal".

Thippanna and Sindhia had yesterday announced the merger in Bangalore at a press conference in the presence of JS(S) president and Former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda.
Reacting to media reports regarding the merger, Yadav said, "JD(U) has a distinct identity. It cannot give up its identity as it is an old party in Karnataka and has a bright future".

He said a "handful" of leaders in Karnataka had taken the decision "without the approval from the JD(U) Central leadership".
Yadav said two senior party leaders Arun Kumar and Javed Raza would be going to Bangalore tomorrow to take stock of the developments.

The merger was described by the state JD(U) leaders as 'inevitable' to oust the 'corrupt Congress government' in the state and to provide an alternative to it.
Bureau Report