BJP afraid of Janata Parivar merger: Nitish Kumar

Upbeat over the merger of six parties of the Janata Parivar, including Bihar's ruling JD-U and its ally RJD, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said on Thursday that the BJP was afraid and worried of the merger.

"The BJP was afraid and worried at the merger of six parties," Nitish Kumar told reporters here after he returned from Delhi.

Nitish Kumar said the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was in trouble, following the announcement of the merger on Wednesday.

"BJP leaders may be making fun or joke of the merger but all of them know it better... that it will prove to be a disaster for the party. BJP leaders are fearful and tense inside," the chief minister said.

A day after the merger, Nitish Kumar said the decision over an election symbol of the new party, its flag and other things will be announced soon.

The chief minister said the merger would not have any impact on the government led by him in the state.

"Development and good governance will remain an agenda of my government in the state. We will run the government to deliver our promises ahead of the next assembly polls later this year," he said.

Mulayam Singh Yadav, whose Samajwadi Party is one of the merged entities, is the president of the newly-launched party.

The decision to merge was announced after a meeting of leaders from the Janata Dal-United (JD-U), Janata Dal-Secular, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Indian National Lok Dal, and the Samajwadi Janata Party, besides from the Samajwadi Party (SP), at the residence of Mulayam Singh Yadav in New Delhi.