New Delhi, Oct 28: In a significant political development, two parties of the Janata Parivar- Janata Dal (United) and Samata Party - today merged to prevent a split in their common vote bank mainly in Bihar in preparation for next year's Lok Sabha polls.

The development comes on top of series of meetings between the top leaders of the two parties with a view to consolidating their position within and for a better bargaining power in a future alliance.
The merger move had gained momentum on October 15 when Samata Party president and Defence Minister George Fernandes had convened a breakfast meeting attended by JD(U) and INLD leaders, who had favoured such a move.
The INLD later mooted a front so as to maintain its separate identity.
In a joint statement, JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav and Samata Party chief George Fernandes said that a decision to merge the two parties was taken at a meeting today. Samata Party leader Nitish Kumar was also present at the meeting.
The details of the merger would be formally announced on October 30, they said in the statement.
The Janata Dal had won 22 seats in the last Lok Sabha polls. Later, 12 MPs moved away to form the Samata Party, leaving the JD (U) with ten members, of whom four led by Ram Vilas Paswan parted ways to form the Lok Janshakti Party. The Samata Party too has expelled two of its 12 MPs.
Bureau Report