There’s a new bloc in Parliament. Six parties, all of them with allegiances to the erstwhile Janata Party, have announced that they are merging to form one super-party that is provisionally titled the Samajwadi Janata Party.

This new grouping will be led by Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav. Other big names include Lalu Prasad Yadav, Nitish Kumar, Sharad Yadav, and Deve Gowda.

The parties that have united include Samajwadi Party (SP), Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Janata Dal United (JDU), Janata Dal Secular (JDS), and Indian National Lok Dal (INLD).

A six-member committee including Gowda and Lalu will decide the party’s name, symbol and flag.

After the formal announcement was made, leaders took turns to explain their vision. Mulayam Singh Yadav said that the merged group will be able to take on the ruling BJP. Political watchers will take note of the merger, coming as it does at a time when the Congress is a diminished force.

The announcement was made after a final round of meeting took place at Mulayam Singh Yadav’s residence in New Delhi.

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