JD(U)-Samata merger likely

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, DEC. 5. With the formation of the Janshakti, the talk of coming together of the Janata Dal (United) and the Samata Party has once again acquired momentum.

This has also found reflection in the decision of the Samata to defer its national executive to be held at Mysore this month to January next year where the party's national president would be elected.

The Union Agriculture Minister, Mr. Nitish Kumar, is said to be in favour of merger of the Janata Dal (United) and the Samata, especially with a view to unite the anti-Laloo forces in Bihar.

Although both parties maintained that there was no formal proposal or move by either side for a merger, there are reports of informal contact among the leaders.

The move also had a bearing on the decision of the Samata to delay its meeting as it would allow the leaders space for coming to an understanding if the proposal gains further pace. The official reason for the postponement was that organisational elections in Bihar was not complete and without a chief, the Samata cannot elect its national leader.

The prime question in the merger move would be the choice of the leader and on this question, the Samata leaders, especially its MPs prefer that the leadership be with the Samata. Apart from other arguments in their favour, they contend that the Samata has a greater numerical presence of 12 in the Lok Sabha, as compared to six MPs of the JD (U).

The other issue that needs to be sorted out would be the arrangement in the States such as Bihar where the Samata has a better strength. With Mr. Paswan's Janshakti chipping away six MLAS in Bihar, the JD (U) is left with just 12 MLAs as against 29 of the Samata. The coming together of these parties would also grant the party the status of being the main Opposition in the Bihar Assembly. In Karnataka assembly, only the JD (U) has a presence while the Samata has no representative.

In Karnataka, a large section of the JD (U) favours merger with the Janata Dal (Secular) which has been opposed by Mr. Ramakrishna Hegde and his supporters. While the JD(U) president, Mr. Sharad Yadav has not made his mind known, it is understood he was not too keen to relinquish the top post that would hasten the unity move.

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