'Janata Parivar' agrees to merge, Mulayam to work out modalities

A In a move aimed at consolidation of their support base and take on the NDAt, six parties of "Janata Parivar" (Janata family) have decided to unite and authorised Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav to work out the modalities for merger.

A meeting of six parties of "Janata Parivar" here also decided to stage a protest Dec 22 against the Narendra Modi government's policies on black money, farmers and unemployment issues.

Janata Dal-United (JD-U) leader Nitish Kumar told the media after the meeting that the six parties were moving in the direction of merger and forming one entity.

"The meeting authorised him (Mulayam Singh) to work out modalities for forming a single party. He will talk to all and work out the blueprint," Nitish Kumar told reporters after the meeting.

Lalu Prasad from Rashtriya Janata Dal,Aformer prime minister H.D. Deve Gowda of Janata Dal-Secular, Kamal Morarka of Samajwadi Janata Party, and Dushyant Chautala of Indian National Lok Dal attended the meeting.

Samajwadi Party was represented by Mulayam Singh and Ram Gopal Yadav while Nitish Kumar and party chief Sharad Yadav represented the JD-U.

The meeting, held at residence of Mulayam Singh, lasted over two hours.

Nitish Kumar, a former chief minister of Bihar, said several formalities have to be completed before merger but there was in principle agreement for merger between the parties.

He denied that the unity was in response to the rise of Bharatiya Janata Party under Prime Minister Modi.

He said there were no personal differences between the Janata Parivar leaders and they had formed separate political outfits due to various reasons.

He also said that the situation warrants that the opposition should be strong so that voice of people is raised strongly.

"It is one-sided (as of now). There is no questioning. Whatever was promised (by BJP) is it being implemented? If we are one, we will have strength," he said, adding a beginning has been made towards unity and merger.

"The desire is to have one party," he said and added that the parties were already coordinating their stance in parliament.

Referring to their common programme of protest on Dec 22, Nitish Kumar said the government had not fulfilled its promises on black money and to farmers.

He said that BJP had promised to support price that was 50 percent over their cost of produce.

"While this has not been done, state governments were being discouraged from paying bonus," he said.

"There were promises that Rs.15 to Rs 20 lakh will come into accounts on return of black money. There were promises that youth will get jobs," he said.