Sharad Yadav merges LJD with Lalu Prasad Yadav's RJD, says strong opposition against BJP a necessity

Despite having a long history of political rivalry with his father Lalu Yadav in the 1990s, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav readily welcomed the move by the veteran leader.

New Delhi: Former Union minister and socialist leader Sharad Yadav on Sunday merged his party Loktantrik Janata Dal with Rashtriya Janata Dal, citing that the nationwide unity of the opposition was a "current necessity" to defeat the BJP. He also additionally pitched other parties to come together and make a concrete alliance to effectively fight the ruling party. The merger marks his alliance with Lalu Yadav after almost 30 years.

Despite having a long history of political rivalry with his father Lalu Yadav in the 1990s, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav readily welcomed the move by the veteran leader. Yadav also justified his acceptance, saying it is a message for the anti-BJP parties to come together and give the ruling government a strong fight. Stating that the democracy and the constitution are "under serious threat in the ruling government", he reiterated that the leaders across the nation need to join hands to "protect" the fabric of secularism and social justice in the country. Also referring to the endorsement to the movie 'The Kashmir Files' by several political leaders, he said that it's alarming how so many issues around are not getting the needed attention, while an "agenda-based" movie is getting "unnecessary limelight".

Sharad Yadav, who is in his early 70s, has made a bounce back from his months-long sabbatical due to health issues with this decision. The 2019 Lok Sabha Elections was his last political implication, which he had contested with an RJD ticket, while his daughter marked the last appearance in the Bihar assembly elections of 2022 on a Congress ticket - which was in alliance with RJD back then. Launched after Yadav's separation from his previous party JDU and its leader Nitish Kumar, his party LJD never made it to getting a big-party recognition. The move is therefore also being seen as an effort to get the party into considerable limelight.

While speaking to the reporters, Yadav lauded Tejashwi Yadav for his leadership in Bihar, while the latter had also expressed gratitude towards him for the trust bestowed upon him. He further said that joining the potential parties against the centre is his "prime priority" at this point, reiterating that the parties should unite if they want to defeat BJP. Averting the questions about the leader of the opposition party if they unite, Yadav also hailed Tejashwi Yadav as the leading face in Bihar.

Sharad Yadav, while in the party, was seen as Lalu Yadav's chief rival within the Janata Dal. In 2005, Sharad Yadav later joined hands with Nitish Kumar and consequently ended RJD's 15-year reign in Bihar. However, during the 2015 assembly polls, Sharad Yadav was seen as a key votary for the JD(U)-RJD alliance, though he later parted ways with Kumar over his decision to ally with the BJP again.