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‘Third Front’ brews as smaller parties unite for Mission 2027
Former minister and prominent OBC face in UP politics, Swami Prasad Maurya, playing a pivotal role in formation of coalition; AJP, ASP and AIMIM aim to provide alternative to NDA and INDIA bloc
LUCKNOW Setting the stage for a multi-cornered contest in the 2027 UP assembly elections, three prominent smaller political parties are working to forge a ‘Third Front’. The coalition in the works, comprising Apni Janata Party (AJP) led by Swami Prasad Maurya, the Azad Samaj Party (ASP) led by Chandra Shekhar Azad and the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) led by Asaduddin Owaisi, aims to provide an alternative to both the BJP-led NDA and the INDIA bloc.
Former minister and a prominent OBC face in UP politics, Swami Prasad Maurya, is playing a pivotal role in the formation of the new coalition. On Tuesday, he had a meeting with ASP chief Chandra Shekhar Azad to discuss the current political situation in the state and prospects of the ‘third front’ in UP.
“Once the consensus is reached, we will announce the launch of the new front within a month,” he said.
“Along with checking the division of votes, there should be a concerted effort to take on the might of the BJP that is looking for a third consecutive victory in the upcoming assembly elections,” Maurya said.
Despite the setback in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, the BJP is buoyant after victory in the West Bengal and Bihar assembly elections. The narrative - Constitution amendment and reservation that led to the setback might not work in the 2027 assembly election. Opposition parties will have to work on fresh strategies and form a bigger caste coalition to challenge the BJP, he added.
Interestingly, chiefs of all three parties had sent feelers to Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav for forming a broad political alliance to take on the NDA. Recently, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi had stated that his party is open to an alliance for the 2027 UP elections on the basis of “dignity and meaningful participation” to defeat the BJP. ASP chief Chandra Shekhar Azad too conveyed a message to the SP leadership for alliance.
After no positive response from the SP leadership, the smaller political parties have decided to join hands to contest the assembly elections.
“The INDIA bloc has failed to learn a lesson from Bihar assembly polls, where RJD national working president Tejashwi Yadav turned down the alliance proposal of Asaduddin Owaisi and Chandra Shekhar Azad. INDIA bloc was defeated in the assembly elections with AIMIM and ASP cutting into INDIA bloc votes,” said Maurya who has a hold over backward communities, including Maurya, Kushwaha, Shakya and Saini voters, in central and eastern UP.
Once a close aide of BSP chief Mayawati, Maurya was minister in the BSP government (2007-12). On August 8, 2016, he joined the BJP along with his supporters. He was given a ticket from his traditional seat Padrauna in the 2017 assembly elections. Maurya represented Padrauna seat in the assembly in 2009 bypolls and 2012 assembly polls as well.
He won the seat again in 2017 assembly polls and was made minister in the BJP government. He rose in rebellion before the 2022 assembly election and joined the Samajwadi Party. He contested assembly elections from Fazilnagar seat, but was defeated by the BJP candidate. In February 2024, he quit SP to launch Lok Morcha.
ASP is expanding its support base among the Dalit community in western and central UP. Victory of Chandra Shekhar Azad from Nagina LS seat in 2024 general elections provided the much needed boost to the party. With the consecutive defeat of the BSP in the assembly and LS polls, the ASP is working to spread its base among the Dalit community.
After winning five assembly seats in Bihar assembly polls, the AIMIM is working to repeat the performance in UP. In the Muslim majority Seemanchal region of Bihar, AIMIM consolidated its hold over the Muslim community by denting the vote base of the Congress and RJD. In UP, the party has set its eyes on Rohilkhand region that has around 30%-40% Muslim vote on many assembly seats.
“AIMIM’s call for Muslim leadership in UP will work in the assembly elections. The SP’s interest is limited to votes, and it has failed to promote Muslim leaders in the party. In the upcoming assembly elections, AIMIM will dent into the SP’s Muslim support base in Bareilly, Moradabad, Meerut, Saharanpur and Gonda region,” said Maurya.
