<p>The much-awaited merger talks among constituents of the erstwhile Janata Dal did not make much headway on Wednesday owing to former Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar’s sudden illness. <br /><br /></p>.<p>But, the ball was set rolling when leaders of the Janata Parivar met over “dahi-chuda” (curd and beaten rice) on the occasion of “Makar Sankranti” here.<br /><br />Janata Dal-United (JD-U) national president Sharad Yadav and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad remained evasive on the possible merger of six parties.<br /><br /> The JD-U, JD-Secular, Indian National Lok Dal (INLD), Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD), RJD and the Samajwadi Party have plans to merger into one entity. Sources in the Bihar ruling JD-U said the new party could possibly be called Samajwadi Janata Dal.<br /><br /> “Merger talks are going on in the direct direction. A possible name for the new party is Samajwadi Janata Dal. Mulayam Singh may become the president of the new entity while the decision on party’s flag/election symbol will be discussed in New Delhi soon,” said JD-U general secretary and Rajya Sabha member KC Tyagi here.<br /><br /> A “Makar Sankranti” feast was organised by Bihar JD (U) chief Bashishtha Narayan Singh at a club here. <br /><br />The INLD was represented by its senior leader Abhay Chautala, who was especially flown in here from Haryana to show hiis solidarity with Janata leaders. A similar feast was organised at 10 Circular Road, the residence of Lalu Prasad’s wife Rabri Devi.<br /><br />Leaders from the JD (U), RJD, Congress and the INLD said an anti-BJP front was needed now. “Or else, the secular parties will meet the same fate as it happened in Jharkhand elections last month,” said Ramai Ram, a senior minister in the Jitan Ram Manjhi Government of Bihar.<br /><br />After the feast was over, Lalu, Abhay Chautala, Tyagi and others went to meet Nitish Kumar at his residence where the JD-U leader was recuperating from fever.<br /><br />Sources said the JD-U and the RJD would merge first as the Assembly elections in Bihar would be held after nine months. <br /><br />“This merger will take place by January-end and the legislators of the newly formed group will elect a new legislature party leader,” said the sources. They said some members of the RJD could become ministers soon.</p>
<p>The much-awaited merger talks among constituents of the erstwhile Janata Dal did not make much headway on Wednesday owing to former Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar’s sudden illness. <br /><br /></p>.<p>But, the ball was set rolling when leaders of the Janata Parivar met over “dahi-chuda” (curd and beaten rice) on the occasion of “Makar Sankranti” here.<br /><br />Janata Dal-United (JD-U) national president Sharad Yadav and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad remained evasive on the possible merger of six parties.<br /><br /> The JD-U, JD-Secular, Indian National Lok Dal (INLD), Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD), RJD and the Samajwadi Party have plans to merger into one entity. Sources in the Bihar ruling JD-U said the new party could possibly be called Samajwadi Janata Dal.<br /><br /> “Merger talks are going on in the direct direction. A possible name for the new party is Samajwadi Janata Dal. Mulayam Singh may become the president of the new entity while the decision on party’s flag/election symbol will be discussed in New Delhi soon,” said JD-U general secretary and Rajya Sabha member KC Tyagi here.<br /><br /> A “Makar Sankranti” feast was organised by Bihar JD (U) chief Bashishtha Narayan Singh at a club here. <br /><br />The INLD was represented by its senior leader Abhay Chautala, who was especially flown in here from Haryana to show hiis solidarity with Janata leaders. A similar feast was organised at 10 Circular Road, the residence of Lalu Prasad’s wife Rabri Devi.<br /><br />Leaders from the JD (U), RJD, Congress and the INLD said an anti-BJP front was needed now. “Or else, the secular parties will meet the same fate as it happened in Jharkhand elections last month,” said Ramai Ram, a senior minister in the Jitan Ram Manjhi Government of Bihar.<br /><br />After the feast was over, Lalu, Abhay Chautala, Tyagi and others went to meet Nitish Kumar at his residence where the JD-U leader was recuperating from fever.<br /><br />Sources said the JD-U and the RJD would merge first as the Assembly elections in Bihar would be held after nine months. <br /><br />“This merger will take place by January-end and the legislators of the newly formed group will elect a new legislature party leader,” said the sources. They said some members of the RJD could become ministers soon.</p>