Janata Parivar merger may be formalised, leaders meet

An announcement on merger of the 'Janata Paivar' is expected on Wednesday as leaders from the socialist parties met here on the issue. The merged entity is likely to be called Samajwadi Janata Party (SJP).

Leaders from the six parties which are to merge met at Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Mulayam Singh's Delhi residence.

The six parties, apart from the SP, are Janata Dal-United (JD-U), Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Indian National Lok Dal (INLD), Janata Dal-Secular JD-S) and Samajwadi Janata Party-Rashtriya (SJP-R).

"We are hopeful of an announcement today (Wednesday). We have authorized Mulayam ji for this merger," JD-U leader and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar told reporters in the national capital.

The meeting comes ahead of the Bihar assembly polls scheduled for later this year.

Sources said in the meeting, the group will endorse Nitish Kumar as the merged entity's chief ministerial candidate for Bihar.