Mulayam meets Bardhan to talk 3rd front

The heat generated by the third or federal front concept was further fuelled after Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Mulayam Singh Yadav met veteran CPI leader AB Bardhan to discuss the “evolving political situation” today.

The heat generated by the third or federal front concept was further fuelled after Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Mulayam Singh Yadav met veteran CPI leader AB Bardhan to discuss the “evolving political situation” on Friday.

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Yadav has been a strong votary of the idea, while Bardhan has opposed it as being “not feasible” and one “that does not inspire the confidence of people”.

While the two leaders agreed on the need for non-Congress and non-BJP parties to step up their campaign on crucial issues affecting people, Bardhan said, “A non-Congress and non-BJP platform can become possible only after the 2014 general elections.”

Significantly, in Mysore on Thursday, UP CM Akhilesh Yadav said the SP would do everything possible to unite like-minded secular parties. “My father is very much interested in the third front. The SP will play a very active role in this matter,” Akhilesh reportedly said.

In view of the inherent contradictions, the SP view is that such a combination should be actively pursued in the post-poll scenario. “The idea is good, but it is rather impossible for the SP and BSP to come on the same page,” said a SP leader.

Similarly, the Left parties will find it untenable to align with a formation consisting of the TMC. Speaking to reporters, Bardhan indicated as much by saying that the “idea of a federal front” floated by one or two CMs (of West Bengal and Odisha), which is supposed to bring together CMs of states that have grievances against the step-motherly treatment meted out by the Congress-ruled Centre, was not “workable”.

“The people want a government whose policies are opposed to the ‘anti-people policies’ being pursued by the UPA government,” Bardhan said.