Nitish rules out merger, Paswan remains hopeful

Referring to the January 6 meeting in New Delhi which had failed to bring about a formal merger of the Samata with the JD(U), Kumar said that since the modalities for the merger had not been formulated by that time, the contentious issue of the merger was not formalised. “The leaders of both the JD(U) and Samata were busy and therefore, the meeting failed to take a decision on the matter,” he said. He said his party would contest the polls on its own symbol `torchlight’.

Referring tothe speculation that the merger was not effected following a `hitch’ over the projection of Union Communication Minister and JD(U) leader Ram Vilas Paswan as the future chief minister of Bihar, Kumar said: “I have already made it clear that I am not an aspirant for such post.”

“A person like me can’t survive as chief minister given the political situation in Bihar,” he added.

However, Paswan recently said that he quite hopeful of an amicable solution to the present impasse in the JD(U) and said that he was even ready to sacrifice his political ambition of becoming chief minister to gain his goal of removing the jungle raj in Bihar.

Paswan, who reached Patna on a three-day official visit, while talking to The Indian Express, made it clear: “I am not in the race for the chief minister’s office. I have long innings in politics and have had the chance to become a minister. It is really sad that the JD(U)-Samata alliance is breaking up on this issue.”

When asked why Samata Party leaders had suddenlyhardened their attitude on the issue of George Fernandes being made the party president, Paswan said: “I am not aware of it. Instead of hardening their attitude, they should have discussed the issue and tried to find an amicable solution.”

Just before leaving for Patna, Paswan had an informal meeting with Fernandes and expressed the hope that he would do something to salvage the situation. According to Paswan, the people of Bihar would be the worst sufferers if the JD(U) and Samata were to contest against each other. He said the situation should not be allowed to deteriorate to that extent and the leaders should put in their best efforts to salvage the situation.

Paswan held that the matter of the party president and chief minister could be settled by the senior leaders. Instead of convening the full-fledged national executive in Delhi, five or six senior leaders should sit together and come to a decision, he opined. He regretted that the present impasse had earned a bad name for the party.

JD(U)leaders are angry with the Samata leadership and feel that their claim over both the key posts, party chief and CM, did not have any rationale. A senior JD(U) leader confided that efforts were still on to persuade Samata leaders to come to an amicable understanding.