Samata Manch mulls alliance of BJP, non-Cong parties

Accusing Congress of failure on all fronts, some former associates of ailing socialist leader George Fernandes are working towards building an alliance of BJP and other non-Congress parties.
Shambhu Shrivastava, a former JD(U) leader, said political activists and leaders committed to the socialist ideals of Fernandes will come together under the banner of Samata Manch, which was launched recently, to re-emphasise the "historic significance of non-Congressism in the contemporary context".
About 300 delegates, including a number of erstwhile Samata Party leaders, are expected to participate at a convention here on October 23 on "Current National Scenario and Alternative", Shrivastava, the manch's convener, said.

Former BJP president Nitin Gadkari will be the guest of honour on the occasion, he said.
Among the other Manch leaders to address the gathering are former MP Brahmanand Mandal, former Manipur Chief Minister R B Koijam, former Madhya Pradesh chief of Samata Party Ram Babu Aggarwal, socialist thinker K K Tripathi and former Gujarat minister Parvin Singh Jadeja.
Suspended JD(U) MP Jai Narayan Nishad, who has supported Narendra Modi's prime ministerial bid, will also be present, he said.
"This national convention will consider a resolution on crisis of confidence engulfing India and detailing Congress' failures on economic and foreign policy front as well as ruling party's continuing attack on democratic institutions and constitutional bodies like CAG and JPC, devaluation of the PM's office apart from politicisation of IB and misuse of CBI," Shrivastava said.

It will draw up a road map for broad mobilisation of all non-Congress forces including BJP, regional leaders and socialists to take the country out of the present crisis and mess, he said.