With the Loktantrik Janata Dal (LJD) getting a favourable response from the CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) for the upcoming Rajya Sabha seat, the party leadership appears to be not keen on the proposed merger with the Janata Dal (Secular) in the State.
The proposed merger of the LJD and the JD(S) has been gaining traction after the entry of the former into the ruling LDF before the Lok Sabha polls. Thus the two parties formed a committee to chalk out steps for the process of unification after C.K. Nanu, MLA , was elected State JD(S) president last year. Now several rounds of talks held have failed to break the deadlock between the parties over various issues, including the new State president.
The JD(S) wants its nominee to be the State president if both parties merge and also a major share of the office-bearers. “Another demand is that its faction will contest five Assembly seats next year as the party had done in the previous polls. The LJD would have to get additional seats from the LDF if it wants to contest the Assembly polls. These are unacceptable to us,” State secretary general Sheikh P. Haris told The Hindu.
A section of the leadership in both the LJD and JD(S) believe that the unification will mutually benefit the parties so as to get more bargaining power in coalition politics. As of now, the JD (S) has three legislators and occupies a Cabinet berth. Incidentally, both parties have internal bickering as was evident with the replacement of State president and the Minister of the JD(S) and reinstallation of the State president of the LJD last month.
The LJD had failed to make an impact either in the previous Assembly polls.