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Dal on verge of another split even as Samata offers reunion

The wranglings in the Janata Dal took a curious turn today when president Sharad Yadav said the Political Affairs Committee had authorised him to broadbase the party by bringing back breakaway groups, but at least three PAC members contradicted this, saying no such decision was taken.

"My immediate concern is to bring in the breakaway groups," Yadav said, while parrying questions on the Dal's stand towards the National Democratic Alliance floated by the Bharatiya Janata Party.

Addressing a press conference after the two-day meeting of the PAC, Yadav said he had been authorised to explore the possibility of strengthening the party by bringing back breakaway groups like the Samata Party, Biju Janata Dal and Lok Shakti.

But some PAC members said Yadav was only authorised to settle the differences within the leadership on the question of the party's relations with the NDA.

Sources close to Yadav said that as the elected president of the party, he did not need authorisation. But he had sought the authorisation to arrive at a consensus.

The 'authorisation' for Yadav comes in the wake of the Samata Party's offer to reunite under the banner of the Janata Dal, Lok Shakti or its own.

Railway Minister Nitish Kumar, a senior Samata Party leader, held talks with Yadav prior to the Janata Dal PAC meeting.

But no decision has been taken and the issue of alignment and partners in the key states of Karnataka, Bihar and Orissa will be taken up at tomorrow's extended meeting of the PAC.

Yadav admitted there were differences in the committee about the party's partners. Some wanted to go it alone while others wanted a practical approach because of the 'extraordinary political situation' prevailing in the country.

He said that contrary to media speculation, the party would emerge stronger and play an important role in national politics without compromising on 'basic principles'.

He was evasive on the role of the new outfit he is trying to build, especially when parties like Samata and Lok Shakti are already part of the NDA.

The parties would discuss all these issues in detail, and as party president he is aware of his responsibility to the party line, Yadav said.

Samata Party spokesman Digvijay Singh said unity would be aimed at providing a "strong and stable government" headed by Atal Bihari Vajpayee, but Yadav declined to be drawn into "hypothetical situations".

Yadav said the proposal of Karnataka Chief Minister J H Patel to align with the NDA was in his individual capacity and had been put on hold.

Meanwhile, Patel, who held a breakfast meeting with Samata Party chief George Fernandes and Nitish Kumar, met Prime Minister Vajpayee as well. Karnataka Agriculture Minister C Byre Gowda, Irrigation Minister K N Nage Gowda and other ministers accompanied Patel.

During the discussion, Vajpayee and Patel are understood to have discussed fielding common candidates to defeat the nominees of the Congress.

The differences in the Karnataka units of the Janata Dal and the Bharatiya Janata Party over the alliance cropped up in the discussion. It was agreed that they would be sorted out among Lok Shakti president Ramakrishna Hegde, Samata Party chief Fernandes, Karnataka BJP chief B S Yediyurappa and Patel.

A minister who attended the meeting said the Dal delegation stressed the need to "shed reluctance" and put up a "unified fight" in the national interest.

Even as the 11-year-old party teetered on the verge of a split, its national general secretary, Wasim Ahmed, said those who want to tie up with the NDA should quit the Dal.

Ahmed, a former member of Parliament, said politicians who want to collaborate with the BJP directly or through its allies have no place in the Janata Dal since such a move is contrary to the party's principle of combating communal politics.

He demanded that the party's national executive be summoned to take stock of the situation.

He said that with a section of the Dal crossing over to the NDA, the party would be left with no option but to merge with the Rashtriya Janata Dal of Laloo Prasad Yadav.

In an indirect dig at Ram Vilas Paswan, he said those who raise the "bogey of corruption" and contend that this issue is more important than fighting communalism should disclose their assets before and after they became Union ministers.

UNI

EARLIER REPORT:
JD still debating tie-up with BJP's allies

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