Janata Parivar members cosy up

New Delhi: Amidst signs of bonhomie between two important Janata Parivar members, speculation is that a serious move is underway to bring Janata Dal (United) and Janata Dal (Secular) closer.

Spearheading the efforts to bring the splinter groups together is the newly-elected JD(U) President Sharad Yadav.

The activities have gathered momentum of late because of the Legislative Council elections in Karnataka, where JD(S) shares power with BJP.

In a goodwill gesture, JD(U) withdrew its candidate in favour of JD(S) for a Legislative Council seat.

"We do not want one seat to come in the way of our friendship," Yadav told PTI here today, reflecting his seriousness in bringing the two Janata Parivar parties closer.

He said JD(S) supremo and former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda has appreciated the gesture and thanked him for withdrawing the JD(U) candidate in favour of JD(S).

Party sources feel that the ideological differences between the JD(U) and JD(S) have narrowed down after Gowda's son Kumaraswamy joined hands with BJP to form the Government in Karnataka and after the death of senior JD(S) leader Madhu Dandavate.

Since JD(U) is a part of the BJP-led NDA, JD(S) was not comfortable with it even some time ago, but the situation has changed now.

Yadav said Gowda has planned a 'Kisan Rally' in Karnataka in the near future and will invite him as also Bihar and Orissa Chief Ministers Nitish Kumar and Naveen Patnaik to the gathering.

The latest meeting between Yadav and Gowda took place in New Delhi on May 23. The two leaders have met quite a few times in the recent past.

The first meeting took place when Kumaraswamy forged an alliance with BJP for government formation in the state.

The two leaders have met in Bangalore early May too.

Yadav is also understood to have met senior Janata leader S R Bommai during his visit to Bangalore.

When George Fernandes was heading the JD(U), a meeting had taken place between him and Gowda and the talks had veered around bringing the two parties nearer.

Yadav took over the reins of the JD(U) in April this year and his main focus has been on strengthening and expanding the organisation.

His initiative to bring the splinter groups closer is part of such efforts, said senior JD(U) leader Javed Raza.