The ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) has decided to allot the lone Rajya Sabha seat for which election is to be held on March 23 to the Janata Dal (United) led by M.P. Veerendrakumar.
The LDF did not, however, take any decision on the JD(U) leadership’s plea for induction into the ruling alliance. The committee was of the view that the matter can be discussed after the Rajya Sabha elections. Till then, the JD(U) could function as a fellow traveller of the LDF, like parties such as the Indian National League (INL).
The JD(U), led by Sharad Yadav at the national level, had approached the LDF leadership with a formal request for inclusion in the alliance.
The front leadership apparently chose not to take a decision in the matter to see if there was any possibility for a merger between the JD(U) and the Janata Dal (Secular), which is already a member of the ruling alliance. The JD(S) is represented in the Cabinet by Water Resources Minister Mathew T. Thomas.
‘Happy with decision’
The LDF leadership asked the JD(U) to file nomination of its candidate for the Rajya Sabha poll without loss of time. The last date for filing nominations is March 12. Mr. Veerendrakumar said his party was happy with the decision of the LDF leadership. The JD(U) parliamentary board would take a decision on the party’s nominee for the Rajya Sabha poll immediately, he said.
There is resistance within the JD(S) against any move for merger with the JD(U), but the party might agree to it if there is pressure from the CPI(M) to do so.
The JD(U) was forced to leave the LDF when the CPI(M) leadership refused to allot it the seat it had sought in the 2009 Lok Sabha election.
This also resulted in the party splitting and one faction, led by Mr. Thomas, remaining with the LDF.
