Janata Parivar: Mulayam Singh Yadav to head 6 party merger

Six parties of the erstwhile Janata parivar on Wednesday decided to merge and form a new party to take on the Bharatiya Janata Party ahead of crucial elections in Bihar scheduled later this year. The decision was announced in Delhi by Janata Dal-United president Sharad Yadav after a meeting of six parties that included Janata Dal-Secular, Rashtriya Janata Dal, Indian National Lok Dal and Samajwadi Janata Party. Samajwadi party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav was elected chairman of the new party that is likely to be named either the Samajwadi Janata Dal or the Samajwadi Janata Party.