Samata Party
Encyclopedia
The Samata Party is a political party
in India
. Initially formed as an offshoot of the Janata Dal
in 1994 by Nitish Kumar
and George Fernandes
. The reason given was that the Janata Dal had shifted to caste
ism. The party has socialist leanings and is of considerable political and social influence in North India
.
In the 1996 general elections
, Samata Party came into alliance with Bharatiya Janta Party and won on eight seats, six in Bihar
and one each in Uttar Pradesh
and Orissa
. Before this it was largely based in Bihar only. In 1998 general elections
, again in alliance with Bharatiya Janta Party it won twelve seats, ten from Bihar
and two from Uttar Pradesh
.
In the 13th Lok Sabha
(1999–2004), it had 12 (out of 545) members.
In October 2003, Fernandes, the president of the party, announced that the party would be merging with the Janata Dal (United)
. The Janata Dal (United) was part of the ruling coalition in the National Democratic Alliance
. One minority in the party led by Brahmanand Mandal
refused to go along with the merger. The Election Commission of India
decided that the merger was not technically complete and so a faction was allowed to function under the name of Samata Party.
Recently there have been attempts by loyalists of George Fernandes
to revive the Party. This possibility was not discounted by Fernandes' loyalist Jaya Jaitley.
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. Initially formed as an offshoot of the Janata Dal
Janata Dal
Janata Dal is an Indian political party which was formed through the merger of Janata Party factions, the Lok Dal, Congress, and the Jan Morcha led by V. P...
in 1994 by Nitish Kumar
Nitish Kumar
Nitish Kumār is an Indian politician currently serving as Chief Minister of Bihar, an eastern state of India. He leads the Janata Dal party...
and George Fernandes
George Fernandes
George Mathew Fernandes is an Indian trade unionist, politician, journalist, agriculturist, and member of Rajya Sabha from Bihar. He is a key member of the Janata Dal , and was the founder of the Samata Party...
. The reason given was that the Janata Dal had shifted to caste
Caste
Caste is an elaborate and complex social system that combines elements of endogamy, occupation, culture, social class, tribal affiliation and political power. It should not be confused with race or social class, e.g. members of different castes in one society may belong to the same race, as in India...
ism. The party has socialist leanings and is of considerable political and social influence in North India
North India
North India, known natively as Uttar Bhārat or Shumālī Hindustān , is a loosely defined region in the northern part of India. The exact meaning of the term varies by usage...
.
In the 1996 general elections
Indian general election, 1996
General elections were held in India in 1996 to elect the members of the 11th Lok Sabha. The result of the election was a hung parliament, which would see three Prime Ministers in two years and force the country back to the polls in 1998. The United Front, was created and got support from 332...
, Samata Party came into alliance with Bharatiya Janta Party and won on eight seats, six in Bihar
Bihar
Bihar is a state in eastern India. It is the 12th largest state in terms of geographical size at and 3rd largest by population. Almost 58% of Biharis are below the age of 25, which is the highest proportion in India....
and one each in Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh abbreviation U.P. , is a state located in the northern part of India. With a population of over 200 million people, it is India's most populous state, as well as the world's most populous sub-national entity...
and Orissa
Orissa
Orissa , officially Odisha since Nov 2011, is a state of India, located on the east coast of India, by the Bay of Bengal. It is the modern name of the ancient nation of Kalinga, which was invaded by the Maurya Emperor Ashoka in 261 BC. The modern state of Orissa was established on 1 April...
. Before this it was largely based in Bihar only. In 1998 general elections
Indian general election, 1998
General elections were held in India in 1998, after the government elected in 1996 collapsed and the 12th Lok Sabha was convened. New elections were called when Indian National Congress left the United Front government led by I.K...
, again in alliance with Bharatiya Janta Party it won twelve seats, ten from Bihar
Bihar
Bihar is a state in eastern India. It is the 12th largest state in terms of geographical size at and 3rd largest by population. Almost 58% of Biharis are below the age of 25, which is the highest proportion in India....
and two from Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh abbreviation U.P. , is a state located in the northern part of India. With a population of over 200 million people, it is India's most populous state, as well as the world's most populous sub-national entity...
.
In the 13th Lok Sabha
Lok Sabha
The Lok Sabha or House of the People is the lower house of the Parliament of India. Members of the Lok Sabha are elected by direct election under universal adult suffrage. As of 2009, there have been fifteen Lok Sabhas elected by the people of India...
(1999–2004), it had 12 (out of 545) members.
In October 2003, Fernandes, the president of the party, announced that the party would be merging with the Janata Dal (United)
Janata Dal (United)
Janata Dal is a political party in India with political presence mainly in Bihar and Jharkhand. Janta Dal party mentor and patron is "Veteran Socialist leader" George Fernandes; George Fernandes broke away from the erstwhile Janata Dal and formed the Samata Party in 1994. Presently it is led...
. The Janata Dal (United) was part of the ruling coalition in the National Democratic Alliance
National Democratic Alliance (India)
The National Democratic Alliance is a centre-right coalition of political parties in India. At the time of its formation in 1998, it was led by the Bharatiya Janata Party and had thirteen constituent parties. Its convenor is Sharad Yadav, and its honorary chairman is former prime minister Atal...
. One minority in the party led by Brahmanand Mandal
Brahmanand Mandal
Brahmanand Mandal is a Bihari politician who served as a member of the Lok Sabha from Munger constituency for three terms under three different political parties: in 1991, as a member of the Communist Party of India, in 1996 under the Samata Party, and re-elected in 1999 as part of Janata Dal .-...
refused to go along with the merger. The Election Commission of India
Election Commission of India
The Election Commission of India is an autonomous, quasi-judiciary constitutional body of India. Its mission is to conduct free and fair elections in India...
decided that the merger was not technically complete and so a faction was allowed to function under the name of Samata Party.
Recently there have been attempts by loyalists of George Fernandes
George Fernandes
George Mathew Fernandes is an Indian trade unionist, politician, journalist, agriculturist, and member of Rajya Sabha from Bihar. He is a key member of the Janata Dal , and was the founder of the Samata Party...
to revive the Party. This possibility was not discounted by Fernandes' loyalist Jaya Jaitley.