Next: Janata Parivar Merger?

NEW DELHI: After the virtual demise of the the Aam Aadmi Party as the ‘experiment’ that had fired the imagination of the young in particular, the next arena of some political interest seems to be Bihar where the old socialists are still ‘talking’ about coming together. Given their past cantankerous record there are not many believers, but at the moment efforts are being made for a larger unity between the erstwhile Janata Dal groups in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka to begin with.

Several meetings have been held and another is being planned for the great ‘announcement’ that will see the merger ---or perhaps just an alliance---of the Samajwadi party, Janata Dal(U), Rashtriya Janata Dal,and the Janata Dal (Secular). “The efforts to unite all the parties against the BJP are going on in Delhi in positive direction," Yadav said while addressing a gathering on the occasion of 87th birth anniversary of Badri Vishal Pitti, the Hyderabad-based industrialist and a close confidante of socialist thinker Ram Manohar Lohia.

About the possible merger of splinter groups of Janata Parivar, the he said, "All are trying...three rounds of talks have been held so far...everyone is making an effort".

Like AAP, the Janata parivar is not immune to sabotage and efforts are on from both within and outside the groups to stall the process indefinitely. Old suspicions between the leaders are being played on, and at times reports suggest that the extra long sulk by Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Lalu Yadav might have more to it than meets the eye; or for that matter the silence by Mulayam Singh who has perfected the art of falling silent, and virtually disappearing, at crucial moments.

The unity assumes greater significance given the fact that Bihar will go to the polls later this year, and Uttar Pradesh next year. The regional parties have been beaten back by the Bharatiya Janata party in both these crucial states and survival is now linked to unity. At least of the Janata parivar for joint campaigns, and a show of strength that becomes important in elections that are increasingly fought on perceptions and not just cold facts.

The erstwhile Janata parties worked together in Parliament, and this has again enthused those hoping for a merger into one large whole sooner than later. It had been agreed in the initial days that the merged outfit would work under Mulayam Singh Yadav as the senior most even while the face of the organisation could be Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar. However, since the issue of merger has not really moved since then it is not clear what will be the final formula that all the constituents would agree to.

Bihar Chief Minister Kumar has already started preparing for the elections by stepping up governance, and keeping a watchful eye out against those trying to foment communal disharmony. Sources close to Kumar admit that there is worry about efforts to polarise communities and “a sharp eye” is being kept on such elements to ensure the state remains largely peaceful. The Janata Dal(U) has been mobilising the farmers across the state on the Land Acquisition bill with Kumar sitting on fast in Patna, in one of those not very frequent instances where Parliament merges with the streets.

Meanwhile efforts are on to ensure that no new kid on the block enters the Bihar fray, with Kumar going out of his way to contain the Aam Aadmi Party from fielding candidates in the Assembly elections. Despite flowers and a lunch, it is still not clear whether Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal is on board, or will follow the advice of some in his party, and enter the Bihar fray to queer the pitch for the Janata Dal(U). He has kept cards close to his chest, and clearly wants to keep the option open despite having little to no base in Bihar.

So far, given a level playing field, there is optimism in the Janata rank and file of at least a “good fight” against the BJP in the Assembly polls. New NDA ally Lok Janshakti party Ram Vilas Paswan under the influence of his son is so far showing no signs of a positive response to the call by Kumar and Lalu Yadav for all erstwhile Janata Dal leaders to come back together on the same platform. Instead Paswan is holding counter meetings, declaring a 85 per cent victory for the NDA in the polls. But then as sources said, Paswan is not exactly recognised as a stable ally, and is seen as the weathervane of Bihar politics.