Lacking cohesion, Third Front barely a threat to UPA

ANTI-UPA BRIGADE: With clashing aspirations, Third Front is a flock difficult to sustain together.

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New Delhi: With the UPA winning the Vote of Confidence in Parliament on Tuesday, the non-UPA and the non-NDA parties thought it was best to stick together.

“We are the real third alternative to the UPA and the NDA,” RLD leader Ajit Singh had spiritedly announced.

But with clashing aspirations and high ambitions, the Third Front is a flock difficult to sustain together.

While UP Chief Minister Mayawati has already been declared as the prime ministerial candidate, JD(S) supremo Dewe Gowda is still eyeing an important role for himself. TDP President Chandrababu Naidu, on the other hand, wants to wait for the right time. Ajit Singh, himself, is capable of springing a surprise anytime.

One reason why the Left refuses to even look at this new formation as a new-age Third Front as it has decided to go solo.

“The Left has constituted a national committee to raise important issues with the people,” CPI-M General Secretary Prakash Karat said.

But that hasn't deterred the new alignment of 11 parties from announcing a Common Minimum Programme for their campaign. And everyone's interest has been kept in mind.

The anti-Government campaign includes Left's favourite issues such as the Indo-US nuclear deal, price rise and communal forces; Rashtriya Lok Dal's anger on agrarian distress and farmer suicides; and BSP’s concern about the alleged misuse of agencies like the CBI by the Central Government.

Throughout the mission to topple the UPA Government, it was Mayawati who emerged as a main rallying force. Now that the UPA has won the trust vote amidst allegations of bribery and horse trading, the road ahead for Mayawati is gong to get tougher. The Central Government will turn the heat on Mayawati and curb her expansion.