New Delhi: The 'Janata Parivar' is coming together to counter the Modi juggernaut. The Samajwadi Party, JD(U), JD(S) and RJD , Thursday, decided to put up a united front and eventually merge into a single party.
The decision was announced by JD(U) leader and former Bihar CM Nitish Kumar after leaders from the parties held a marathon meeting at SP supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav's residence in the capital.
“There is a broad agreement that there should be unity among the parties. We have to unite inside and outside the Parliament. All these parties will hold a dharna on Dec 22 in Delhi to highlight issues like black money, farmer distress and unemployment.”
We must unite and work for development, Nitish said, adding that Mulayam Singh has been authorised to take the process of merger forward.
“Mulayam Singh has been authorised to finalise the modalities to unite the parties. We will then taken a final call. We are working towards merging all the parties into one entity,” he said.
“We have same ideology. In today's political context, the opposition should unite. When we unite then our voice will have power,” he added.
When asked whether the alliance is being formed owing to the fear of PM Narendra Modi, he said, “It's not about fear about any person. It's about the nation.”
Among those who were present at the meeting were former prime minister HD Deve Gowda, former Bihar CM, RJD president Lalu Yadav and INLD leader Abhay Chautala.
Reports suggested that the new front is likely to be called as Samajwadi Janata Dal and Mulayam may be anointed as the president.
It will be interesting to see if other regional parties like Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress, Karunnanidhi-led DMK and Naveen Patnaik-led Biju Janata Dal will join the front.
Recently, Mamata had said that the BJP will lose future elections if regional parties come together.
Earlier too, a similar strategy was adopted by the various regional parties including the Left and a Third Front was formed, however, it turned out to be the biggest flop in country's political history.
Interestingly, the latest front comprises of those parties which were bulldozed by the BJP in the 2014 General Elections.
The SP, RJD, JD(U), INLD, JD(S) all were routed by the 'NaMo wave' in their respective strongholds.
