Patna,(BiharTimes): The Hindustani Awam Morcha on Thursday staked claim on the name, symbol and flag of Janata Dal (United) after its legislators unanimously resolved to merge it with the six like-minded parties of Janata Parivar.

In fact all the JD(U) MLAs––barring those associated with HAM and rebels––on Wednesday authorized chief minister Nitish Kumar and party chief Sharad Yadav to take a final call on the issue of merger.

The rebel JD(U) MLA from Islampur Rajiv Ranjan has written to the Election Commission (EC), saying at least 10 party MLAs were against the merger and wanted to retain the JD(U) entity. He quoted Articles 102(2) and 191(2) of the 10th Schedule of the Constitution to substantiate his point that even a single MLA could disagree to any merger with another political party and remain with the party which would exist in that case.

“Therefore, I request you to let the JD(U) symbol ‘arrow’ and flag remain with us,” the letter written to the new Chief Election Commissioner, Nasim Zaidi, said. Incidentally, the leader of HAM and former CM, Jitan Ram Manjhi, was supposed to announce his new political party at a rally at Gandhi Maidan in Patna on April 20.

HAM chief spokesperson Nitish Mishra categorically said that no new party would be needed in the case of JD(U) merger.