Samata revived, Fernandes missing

By staying away from meet, veteran socialist hasn8217;t given any reason to either NDA or JDU to move against him

As scripted, supporters of George Fernandes revived the Samata Party at a convention at the Constitution Club here today, but there was no cascading effect of the move either on the NDA or on the JDU as the veteran socialist leader himself stayed away from the show.

With the venue dotted by huge posters and banners featuring Fernandes8217; name and pictures, his three close confidantes 8212; former Samata chief Jaya Jetly, JDU general-secretary Shiv Kumar and Aniel Hegde 8212; participated in the convention. Bihar MLA Chhedi Paswan and Pravinsinh Jadeja and Anurag Kumar, former JDU presidents of Gujarat and Uttarakhand, respectively, also turned up. Former Lok Sabha member Brahmanand Mandal, who had been keeping the Samata name and symbol alive since the party8217;s merger with JDU, chaired the meeting. It was, however, clear that Jetly would eventually assume the presidency.

JDU general-secretary Shambhu Sharan Srivastav, when contacted, told The Indian Express in reply to a question about Fernandes: 8220;He continues to be a senior member of JDU national executive and the parliamentary party.8221; The implication was that there was no case for any action against Fernandes because he had neither said nor done anything against the party.

There was naturally no trouble over Fernandes heading the NDA either, at least for now. BJP sources had been hinting all this while that nothing would happen at the convention, which would make it imperative for the party to look for his replacement. 8220;At worst, there would be one more party in the NDA,8221; a senior leader had remarked yesterday dismissing suggestions that the alliance may have another convenor.

Apart from saving the NDA the trouble of looking for his successor, Fernandes has avoided his disqualification from the Lok Sabha under the anti-defection Act.

The JDU, instead of precipitating a fight, wants to let the development pass off without any ripple effect. Consequently, Srivastav ruled out any action against Shiv Kumar and others. 8220;The membership of a party is voluntary,8221; he told The Indian Express adding that 8220;if someone chooses to give it up, it is his decision.8221; Sources in the JDU said 8220;thankfully, there would be no one within our ranks after Shiv Kumar8217;s exit who would be saying all sorts of things on behalf of George Sahib on a daily basis.8221;

Jetly, when asked about the absence of Fernandes, said, 8220;I think if he is called, he would also come.8221; Mandal told reporters that 8220;Fernandes can come whenever he feels like.8221; Jetly was more diplomatic while addressing the delegates later. 8220;George Sahib is not just present on the posters here 8212; he is present in the heart of everybody who is here.8221;

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8220;I never left the Samata,8221; Jetly said insisting that she had never joined the JDU. She described JDU leaders as 8220;petty8221; and said they had no respect for their elder leader.

The convention adopted a resolution stating that those who had built the original Samata Party had returned to its fold to make it a 8220;genuine platform of political action8221; again. 8220;We seek the blessings of the original founder of the Samata Party, George Fernandes, who will always be our inspiration and guide.8221;

Fernandes has obviously retaliated against the efforts of Sharad Yadav-Nitish Kumar combine to sideline him, but he has obviously deferred a fight.