JD(U) hastens date for merger with Samata and Lok Shakti

JD(U) chief Sharad Yadav, his Samata Party counterpart George Fernandes, Agriculture Minister Nitish Kumar and other leaders besides Paswan were present at the meeting. However, Lok Shakti president Ramakrishna Hegde excused himself from the meeting and instead deputed party general secretary M Raghupathy.

The Lok Shakti is the only stumbling block in the early finalisation of the merger as Hegde is prevaricating on the issue.

Paswan said there was a lot of work to be done which included the finalisation of the seats the JD (U) would contest in alliance with the BJP and the candidates.

Asked whether a chief ministerial candidate would be projected ahead of the elections, he said the choice of the chief minister would be decided only after the elections. He also clarified that he had already declared that he was not in the race for the post.

Paswan who was involved in the drafting of the consensual views of Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes MPs who met over three days to discuss issues relating to the welfare of the community said that the Government had agreed to a Constitutional amendment to restore reservation for SCs and STs in job promotions. “The draft Bill is at an advanced stage,” he said.

These MPs were of the view that reservation of seats for SCs and STs in the Lok Sabha should be in proportion to the population according to the next census. They also wanted quotas to be introduced for them in the Rajya Sabha and legislative councils in States where they existed.

Among their other demands is the one relating to continuation of job quotas in those public sector undertakings where the government equity went below 50 per cent following divestment of shares.