GHAZIABAD(UP): The merger of the Ajit Singh and Chandra Shekhar camps with the Janata Dal took a formal shape Sept.29 with the top brass of the Janata Dal (Ajit), the Samajwadi Janata Party (SJP)and the Janata Dal (Bommai) deciding to form a single party at a meeting here. In what appeared to be a repeat of October 1988 when the Janata Dal took birth, the various leaders, who had broken away from the Dal at various points of time, shook hands Wednesday.
The absence of the former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, Mulayam Singh Yadav, from Wednesday’s meeting was, however, a major difference from the Janata Dal of 1988. Today’s meeting resolved to make a final effort to rope in the Samajwadi Party leader to the fold and the Bihar Chief Minister, Laloo Prasad Yadav, has been authorized to approach him on behalf of the unified Janata Dal for a seat adjustment, if not merger.
The groups resolved to retain the constitution, program, party flag and symbol of the Janata Dal. The meeting, however, could not resolve the differences on organization structure, especially on accommodating the various leaders in the unified party.
Those who were present in the meeting included, Messrs. V.P.Singh, Chandra Shekhar, Ajit Singh, Laloo Prasad Yadav, Biju Patnaik, Ramakrishna Hegde, Dev Lal, O.P.Chautala, Rasheed Masood, and virtually the entire top brass of the three parties.
A five member core group, consisting of Messrs. Laloo Yadav, Biju Patnaik, Ram Vilas Paswan, Rasheed Masood and O.P.Chautala, has been constituted to clinch differences on the organizational structure of the unified party. The committee, according to Bommai, submits its recommendation on Thursday.
Apart from discussing the organization structure, the group will also constitute State level committees to manage election related issues, “All these will be completed within a day or two,” Bommai said.
However, a similar time frame has not been spell out for striking any understanding with Mulayam Singh Yadav and indications are that the party is not averse to an understanding even at the fast moment. Considerable sections within the Dal continue to hope for the best and are willing to concede the U.P, Chief Minister ship 10 Malayan Singh, in the event of the party winning the Assembly elections in the State, notwithstanding the brave face put up by Bommai that the Janata Dal by itself was hopeful of winning a majorty of seats.
Describing Wednesday’s development as a historic event, Bommai sought to equate this to the formation of the Janata Dal in October 1988 from conclave held under his chairmanship in Bangalore. The Dal president sought to stress that the coming together of the various forces was a essentially an outcome of realization by the various leaders that a unified Dal alone could become third alternative to both the Congress(I) and the BJP.
Bommai parried questions such as whether from Thursday, Ajit Singh and Chandra Shekhar were presidents or not of this respective parties. Similarly, even after announcing the merger, there was no such announcement of a join tally or such similar public show whomsoever.
Even on the crucial question of a location of seats to the various factions in the coming elections, no concrete discussions were held till late according to Bommai. Described as an important grey area in the merger process,” by none other than Hegde, who was one of the key players ever since the unity moves began after Dec.6, the allocation of Assembly seats to the various contenders is considered the crucial test.
Article extracted from this publication >> October 8, 1993
