After the recent Janata Parivar meeting in Delhi, Nitish Kumar had hinted at a joint platform
CM Nitish Kumar Photo: PTI/File)
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The grand merger of the Socialist Janata (Democratic) led by Mr M.P. Veerendrakumar and the Janata Dal (United) led by Mr Sharad Yadav scheduled to take place in Thrissur on December 28 is likely to trigger a debate on the political realignment in the state.
The SJD is an ally of the UDF in Kerala, but the JD(U) is not part of the Congress- led UPA. However, the Congress is extending unconditional support to the Jitanram Manjhi government of the JD(U) in Bihar. After the recent Janata Parivar meeting in Delhi, former Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar had hinted at a joint platform with the Left Front but remained tight-lipped about the Congress.
Though the Janata Parivar thrived on anti-Congressism for many decades, the biggest threat it faces now is from the BJP. But most socialists and Lohiaites still prefer a non-Congress-non-BJP platform.
SJD leader Varghese George, while admitting that his party was discussing all possibilities, said the merger with JDU would not change its status as a UDF ally. “We need to explore other possibilities only if the JDU national leadership takes a strident anti-Congress position post-merger,” he added.
With local bodies polls less than a year away, the SJD wants to stick to the UDF. But that doesn't mean that all future options are closed. It is no secret that socialists are more comfortable in the company of the LDF than the Congress. And their relationship is nearly five decades old. Socialist leader P. Viswambharan was the first LDF convenor in 1973 and the post was held by Mr Veerendrakumar in the late eighties.
Notwithstanding CPM state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan’s opposition, there’s a big section even within the Left, including central leaders and Opposition Leader V.S. Achuthanandan, which is keen to get SJD and RSP back in the LDF fold. “Our doors are always open to those who left the Janata Parivar. But if they want to come as an ally of the LDF, then the front leadership has to take a call,” said JD(S) state president Mathew T. Thomas.
Since the Janata Parivar was coming together at the national level on a non-BJP and non-Congress plank, there was no point in continuing with UDF here.
( Source : dc )
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