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A series of electoral victories of the BJP under Narendra Modi has compelled six political parties of the 'Janata parivar' including the Samajwadi Party and the JD(U) to come together on a common platform. JD(U) leader and former Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar today said that the JD(U), SP, JD(S), INLD, SJP and RJD would work out a common floor 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 today for the top brass of these parties Sharad Yadav and Nitish Kumar of the JD(U), RJD chief Lalu Prasad, JD(S) leader H D Deve Gowda, INLD's Dushyant Chautala and SJP's Kamal Morarka.
Nitish Kumar later addressing the media made it clear that "this isn't a Third Front". "Whether its 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 produce.
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."
Responding to a question Kumar said TMC chief Mamata Banerjee's role in the new grouping was also discussed but no decision was taken.
Highlighting the issues that the front would attack the BJP on 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."
"BJP had claimed that besides the input cost, it will give an additional 50% to farmers as MSP. 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 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.
