Even before it could take off properly, the Third Front is facing the spectre of a premature collapse once again. Prime movers of the Front like former prime minister HD Devegowda have now been forced to initiate moves to keep the group from breaking even as their pre-announced plan to launch a nationwide campaign against the government appears to be in jeopardy.
The JD(S) veteran on Friday met RLD chief Ajit Singh ostensibly to try and find an amicable arrangement with the BSP leader Mayawati, who stunned the latter by announcing that her party would field candidates in all the seats in UP for the forthcoming LS polls. The RLD leader has been upset over Mayawati’s decision not to leave any seats for his party and is already exploring options of aligning himself with either the BJP or the Congress. He has held talks with both parties.
It is in this backdrop that Gowda had also held discussions with Left leaders on Thursday where the issue was also taken up besides discussing the future course of action of the Third Front.
Third Front leaders are still not able to take a clear stand as Mayawati has refused to toe a collective line. Even on the issue of a common national campaign against the UPA, clarity has continued to evade them. They are now waiting for TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu to turn up on Sunday, while the expectation is that they would be able to know Mayawati?s mind when she comes to the capital this month-end. The anti-Congress, anti-BJP group had announced its plans to launch the campaign on July 23, a day after the trust vote.