New Delhi

RSP(M) merges with SP in Kerala

NEW DELHI: The Revolutionary Socialist Party (Marxist), a constituent of the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) in Kerala, merged with the Samajwadi Party on Sunday. This signalled renewed efforts by the Samajwadi Party to get a toehold in Kerala politics after its attempt to join the Left Democratic Front by getting JD (S) to merge with it came to naught.

The merger was announced here by Samajwadi Party president Mulayam Singh. With the merger, RSP(M) leader and former Minister Babu Divakaran has become the president of the State unit of the Samajwadi Party. He has been made a member of its national executive, the second representative from the State on the forum after Joe Antony.

Briefing journalists about the merger, Mr. Singh said he would approach Congress president Sonia Gandhi to discuss the possibility of his party joining the UDF in Kerala. The party was planning a convention in Thiruvananthapuram in December.

The Samajwadi Party is the third political outfit that is seeking to join the UDF, the other two being the Nationalist Congress Party and Kerala Congress (Secular).

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