A Political Merger of Desperation

The parties—the JD-U, RJD, Samajwadi Party, Janata Dal, Indian National Lok Dal and Samajwadi Janata Party—had initially reached an understanding on naming the new entity the Samajwadi Janata Dal, and on accepting the SP symbol, the bicycle, as their joint insignia. But JD-U leaders changed their mind later, after JR Manjhi, the former Chief Minister of Bihar—who broke away from the JD-U to float his own outfit—said he would claim the flag and symbol of the parent organisation for his own party.