BJP 'tensed' about Janata Parivar merger, says Nitish

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Thursday said the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is tense about the merger of the Janata Parivar, as reflected by their immediate reactions to the announcement.

"The BJP is tensed from the inside and their fear is being reflected in their reactions. They know that they are making fun of us today, which will be the reason for their downfall soon," said Kumar.

He added that a committee had been formed to decide on major party matters such as its by-laws and election symbol.

"All parties have come together under the leadership of Mr. Mulayam Singh Yadav. People from the Samajwadi Party will also be present in the merger. We will soon decide on the party name, flag, symbol and the party bylaws," he said.

BJP president Amit Shah had earlier mocked the Janata Parivar merger saying that "zero plus zero remains a zero".

Shah asserted that nobody can prevent his party from coming to power in Bihar.

On Wednesday, six parties from the Janata Parivar decided to come together and form a new political front headed by Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav.

Nitish's Janata Dal (United), Lalu Prasad's Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Mulayam Singh Yadav's Samajwadi Party (SP), Om Prakash Chautala's Indian National Lok Dal (INLD), Janata Dal (Secular) led by former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda and Samajwadi Janata Party (SJP) are the six parties that came together.