6 Parties of Janata Parivaar Announce Merger, Mulayam Singh Yadav to be Chief of New Party: Highlights

Sharad Yadav, Mulayam Singh Yadav, Lalu Prasad, Nitish Kumar, Abhay Chautala, and HD Deve Gowda held a press conference this evening to announce the formation of the new Janata Parivaar.

Here are the highlights of their interaction with the press:

SHARAD YADAV - JANATA DAL (UNITED):

• We have decided to for a new party. Mulayam Singh Yadav will be the party chief
• Mulayam Singh Yadav will be the leader of the party in Parliament

HD DEVE GOWDA - JANATA DAL (SECULAR):

• The decision on Mulayam Singh Yadav was "unanimous".

LALU PRASAD - RASHTRIYA JANATA DAL:

• We have come together to defeat the designs of the communal forces.
• We will have to decide on the name later, we have decided on 'Netaji' as our leader.
• Our policy will be around defeating the BJP - Inka hawabazi hai, hawa nikal dengey tube se.
• Our aim is to  combat the BJP, will travel across the country to spread this spread message.
• All eyes are towards Bihar today and I want to tell people that the Bihar is a very strong state.

NITISH KUMAR - JANATA DAL (UNITED):

• I congratulate Mulyam Singh Yadav. This party will give new direction to Indian politics.
• We have formed a committee of the chiefs of constituent parties to decide on all issues.

MULAYAM SINGH YADAV - SAMAJWADI PARTY:

• The country has many hurdles facing it and the government in Delhi is not ready to face them.
• This government never takes the Opposition parties into confidence.
• Tell me one new thing this BJP government has done.
• I told them if you have no results to show, at least tell us what efforts are being made (to fulfill the promises made before elections).
• I thank Deve Gowda who said that he'll support whatever decision was taken, I also want to mention Nitishji who supported this move.
• Even the people of India are happy at this merger.
• This government is very arrogant and we'll try to curb that arrogance.
• The government has been conspiring to create communal disharmony. We saw how  their MPs, ministers spoke against minorities and no action was taken.

ABHAY CHAUTALA - INDIAN NATIONAL LOK DAL:

• This new party will fight for the people of the country.