Patna, Feb. 9: Chief minister Nitish Kumar and his JDU are looking westwards at Maharashtra for expansion.
The intention is to merge smaller parties and organisations like Shetkari Sanghatana (farmers' organisation) founded by politician Sharad Joshi and National People's Party (NPP) founded by former Lok Sabha Speaker late PA Sangma, who established it after splitting from Sharad Pawar's Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).
"We are in merger talks with Shetkari Sanghatana and NPP. Plans are being chalked to launch membership drives in Maharashtra under the leadership of our state unit president and MLC Kapil Patil," JDU national general secretary Shyam Rajak told The Telegraph.
Shyam will embark on a three-day visit to Mumbai tomorrow to carry forward the agenda that fits in the JDU's gambit to emerge as a national party with presence in all major states across the country.
A meeting of all JDU district units in Maharashtra has also been convened in which a few leaders belonging to different smaller parties there are expected to join the party headed by Nitish.
"We are working with the intention to contest Lok Sabha polls in Maharashtra, and Dadra and Nagar Haveli," Shyam said.
Top sources in JDU said Nitish will hold public rallies there once the merger is finalised. He will focus on prohibition and alternative model of development as advocated by eminent socialist leaders of the country.
However, the JDU is also cosying up to the NCP with Nitish visiting Gondiya in Maharashtra to attend functions at Manoharbhai Patel Institute of Engineering and Technology, which is run by NCP leader and former civil aviation minister Praful Patel.
Sources said the JDU is looking for an alliance with NCP, and also encashing the Patel card there as Nitish belongs to the same social group.