Patna, March 9 (IANS) Former union minister and Samajwadi Janata Dal-Democratic chief Devendra Prasad Yadav Sunday joined Bihar's ruling Janata Dal-United. He is set to contest the Lok Sabha polls from Jhanjharpur.

Yadav also announced the merger of his party with the JD-U in the presence of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, JD-U state president Vashsisht Narain Singh said.

Singh said the candidature of Yadav, a former MP, has almost been finalized by the party but it will be formally announced in a day or two.

In 2010, after parting company with RJD chief Lalu Prasad, Yadav launched his new party.

According to JD-U leaders, some RJD and Congress legislators are likely to join the JD-U.