The recent decision of the Kerala unit of the Loktantrik Janata Dal (LJD) to merge itself with the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) could turn out to be tricky for the party vis-a-vis its position within the Left Democratic Front (LDF).
The LJD is right now a constituent of the LDF and wishes to remain so. The party has only one MLA, K.P. Mohanan, who represents Koothuparamba in Kannur district. The State unit of the RJD, however, is seeking a space within the United Democratic Front (UDF). The National Janata Dal, an offshoot of the Janata Parivar and a member of the UDF, had earlier merged with the RJD in Kerala. According to sources, only a formal announcement is left for the party’s entry to the UDF. The national leadership of the RJD, meanwhile, does not mind being part of either the UDF or the LDF.
The LJD State unit sought to merge with the RJD after suspending its ongoing talks with the Janata Dal (Secular), blaming that party’s ambivalent stand with regard to the BJP.
