Samajwadi Party, SP, Janata Dal United, JD(U) Rashtriya Janata Dal, RJD, and Janata Dal Secular, JDS, have resolved to work together as one unit.

Leaders of these parties met in New Delhi today and resolved to have a common stand on important issues like black money, price rise and unemployment.

Addressing media persons after the meeting, JD(U) leader and former Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said the parties will work together as one unit and efforts will be made to bring more regional parties into the grouping.

Mr Kumar hinted at a possible merger of JD(U), RJD, SP and JDS in future.

He said the meeting was aimed at bringing together the parties that have come out from the original Janata parivar.

AIR correspondent reports, the luncheon meeting at SP chief Mulayam Singh's residence was attended by JDU chief Sharad Yadav, RJD President Lalu Prasad Yadav and JD(S) Chief and former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda.

The meeting is seen as an effort by the Opposition parties to show unity and remain politically relevant after receiving drubbing in Lok Sabha polls. Together the parties have 15 Lok Sabha seats and 25 Rajya Sabha seats.

AIR correspondent adds that what made today's meeting different from several other attempts of stitching together a Third Front of non-Congress and non-BJP parties was the absence of the Left parties.