Modi scare forces 6 parties to contemplate merger

A series of electoral victories of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) under Prime Minister Narendra Modi has compelled six political parties of the erstwhile Janata Parivar, including the Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Janata Dal (United), to come together on a common platform. JD(U) leader and former Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Thursday said the JD(U), SP, JD(S), Indian National Lok Dal (INLD), Samajwadi Janata Party (SJP) and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) would work out a common strategy to take on the government in Parliament and the possibility of their merger will be decided in future.

SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav hosted a lunch for top leaders of these parties. JD(U) leaders Sharad Yadav and Nitish Kumar, RJD chief Lalu Prasad, JD(S) leader H D Deve Gowda, INLD's Dushyant Chautala and SJP's Kamal Morarka attended the event.

Nitish Kumar, addressing the mediapersons, said, "This isn't a Third Front." "Whether it is about forming a front or a merger of all these parties will be decided in future," Kumar added. However at the moment, these parties have decided to make joint efforts to take on the BJP-led government on three issues -- black money, on increasing unemployment and on prices of agricultural products.

Kumar said, "There is a consensus that we will have to work together in future." He clarified that they were open to holding discussions with the Left parties. "We are open to a dialogue. All those parties who share our views on certain issues will be contacted."

On Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee's role in the new grouping, Kumar said it was discussed but no decision was taken on it.

Kumar said the BJP had taken a U-turn on the issue of black money. "We were told every Indian will get Rs 15 lakh once black money is brought back...today we don't know the exact quantum of money stashed abroad."

"The BJP had claimed that besides the input cost, it will give an additional 50 per cent to farmers as MSP (minimum support price). But the increase in MSP has been very little. Another issue is unemployment. They (BJP) said they would provide employment. But the fact is that there is a freeze in fresh appointments,\" Kumar said.

In the upcoming Parliament session, the parties would take a united stand on the land acquisition Act and the Insurance Bill.

In addition to being marginalised at the Centre, the upcoming elections in Bihar and UP in 2015 and 2016, respectively, have prompted these regional parties to get together to remain politically relevant.