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No proposal to merge with JD(U), says Fernandes

Samata Party leader and Union Defence Minister George Fernandes categorically stated Monday that there was no proposal of a merger with the Janata Dal (United) before the party, right now.

Emerging from the inaugural session of the party's two-day national convention in Mysore, Fernandes told the rediff.com that the so-called crisis in the party was a media creation, and refuted reports that the party had split in the wake of six Members of Parliament raising a banner of revolt against the reported merger moves with the JD(U).

"There isn't a proposal for a merger with the JD(U). Everybody is discussing these things in a vacuum! At the same time, the party has an open mind on such issues. Our party does not suffer from a closed mind," he affirmed.

Asked whether the crisis has been resolved, Fernandes shot back asking: "Where is the crisis? It is all your (media and vested interests) creation. After all, the Samata Party is a democratic one. Like any citizen, every member has the right of expression. There can be a difference of opinion, but that is a sign of inner-party democracy."

Denying media reports that the party's rebel MPs from Bihar were staying away from the on-going convention, Fernandes said the MPs were coming for the meeting.

"They are flying into Bangalore Monday evening, and will be here by Monday night. They should have been here by now, but due to heavy fog in Delhi, their morning flight could not take off," Fernandes said.

Asked about the election of Raghunath Jha as a rebel president of the party's Bihar unit, Fernades said his election was not legal as he was not elected by the party's conference. "Jha and other members of the party in Bihar held only a parallel meeting."

Ruling out any rebellion, Fernandes asked, "Where are the rebels? There are no rebels in the party. There is only a difference of opinion on how to expand the party's base. Some felt strongly on certain issues, and held a separate convention. That's all. There is no need to read either too much into it."

"They are very much part of the party. What's more, they are coming to Mysore and joining the proceedings. What more can I say?" Fernandes asked.

Denying that there was any crisis or problems dogging the party, Fernandes said the problem was in the mind of the media. "We are open to discuss any issue in a democratic manner. Our goal is to expand the party's base. Such an attempt was made during the last parliamentary elections in August-September of 1999, by trying to merge the Samata, the Janata Dal, and the Lok Shakti in Karnataka. But the efforts did not bear fruits due to difference of opinion on some contentious issues."

Another senior party leader and Union Minister for Public Distribution System K Srinivasa Prasad, however, admitted that unity moves with the JD(U), if any, were being put on the hold, ostensibly in the face of strong opposition from a section of the party, led by the six Bihar MPs.

Prasad, who hails from the Mysore region, said with the exit of Union Communications Minister Ram Vilas Paswan from the JD(U) to form his own party, leaders of the Samata and the JD(U), led by Union Civil Aviation Minister Sharad Yadav, who also hails from Bihar, felt the time had come for a realignment of all socialist forces.

"The common aim of both parties is to take the battle against the corrupt and autocratic rule of the Rashtriya Janata Dal of Laloo Prasad Yadav and the Rabri Devi government in the state to the logical end."

Prasad candidly admitted to rediff.com that the crisis in the Bihar unit of the party was more on account of ego clashes. "With the departure of Paswan, who was a common foe of Union Agriculture Minister Nitish Kumar and Sharad Yadav, several members felt the time was ripe for the reunification of both parties."

Earlier, party's president Jaya Jaitley was re-elected unopposed, after the withdrawal of Fernandes and Nitish Kumar from the race. Her name was proposed by Nitish, and seconded by Bihar MP Ram Avatar.

Delivering the key-note address at the inaugural session of the party's plenary session, Fernandes said a resolution would be adopted to recommend President's Rule in West Bengal in the wake of the latest wave of violence and atrocities against activists of the Trinamul Congress, an ally of the ruling National Democratic Alliance at the Centre.

UNI adds: In a turnaround, Samata Party dissidents led by Jha Monday decided to attend the party's national convention following Fernandes's continued efforts to broker a patch-up.

''We have decided to join the meet at Mysore Tuesday in view of requests by Fernandes,'' Jha told UNI.

Five Lok Sabha members - Jha, Prabhunath Singh, Mahendra Baitha, Manjay Lal and Dr Arun Kumar will leave for Bangalore on Monday evening.

Brahmanand Mandal, MP from Munger in Bihar, will not attend the meet in view of his pre-occupation with his home constituency.

''Fernandes has promised to extend an umbrella to our 'respect and dignity' and therefore, we decided by consensus to attend the meet on the last day,'' Jha added.

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