Kochi: After over three years of political uncertainty, the Janata Dal (Secular) in Kerala has merged into a newly registered party, the Indian Socialist Janata Dal (ISJD), to regain its political presence. The move comes after internal conflicts arose when the party’s national leadership aligned with the BJP in Karnataka while the Kerala faction remained with the Left Democratic Front (LDF).

Had the Kerala unit opposed the national leadership, it would have lost two MLA seats. Accepting the national leadership would have meant leaving the LDF. To resolve this dilemma and retain its MLAs while maintaining a position in the Left, the new party was formed over the past three years.

The decision to merge the JD(S) into the new party was finalised before the local body elections. The ISJD, with around 100 members centred in Palakkad, has now received registration from the Election Commission. Two MLAs from JDS will formally join the ISJD at a conference in Kochi on January 10, after which the party will apply for its official symbol, expected to be the wheel.

District committees have convened meetings to approve the merger and show support for the move. Post-merger, the existing leadership will continue: Mathew T Thomas MLA will remain state president, and organisational elections based on membership will be conducted after the assembly elections.