Janata Parivar, a new political outfit, came into existence in India after six socialist parties – Mulayam Singh Yadav’s Samajwadi Party (SP), Lalu Prasad Yadav’s Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Sharad Yadav’s Janata Dal United (JDU) and Deve Gowda’s Janata Dal (Secular) – merging together. Mulayam Singh Yadav heads Janata Parivar. But how and why have these old rivals decided to be friends now? The massive emergence of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) across the country under Prime Minister Narendra Modi has literally forced these traditional rivals to join hands.
The new political front with all its power will take on the saffron party. Their strength will be tested in the Bihar Assembly Elections in the last quarter of 2015. Does the Janata Parivar have enough potential to stop the winningrath of the BJP?
In the Bihar bypolls in 2014, the ‘grand alliance’ of Lalu and Nitish Kumar with the Indian National Congress dominated the BJP, winning 10 Assembly seats on August 21. Indeed, the victory in Bihar by-elections paved the way for the current merger.
Number game:
The Janata Parivar could be a major threat to BJP in Bihar and other states. If we look at the numbers, the new front gives tough contest to the BJP. If Congress ties up with the Parivar, then the saffron party will find it difficult to encounter them.
The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) got nearly 20 percent of the total votes while the JD(U) secured 12 percent in the Lok Sabha Elections 2014 from Bihar. If you add Congress’ eight percent votes to it, it would be 40 percent, slightly ahead of the 39 percent votes fetched by the BJP and its allies.
Numbers speak for them. Seeing the last election results in Bihar, the Janata Parivar has an advantage over the BJP. Let us remind you that the Janata Parivar is not ahead in just numbers. If we were to go through the mass appeal these leaders have in Bihar, the Janata Parivar (with the support of Congress) can surely spoil the BJP’s dream to win in the state. But the million dollar question is: How long will the Janata Parivar remain aparivar?
Prasanta Patnaik