In the first-ever move that could change the political arithmetic before the 2014 General Elections, the major non-Congress and non-BJP parties are coming together on the same platform in the Capital.
Leaders of the Left-and-Lohia Socialist bloc are organising a national anti-communal convention on October 30. The participation of the AIADMK and the BJD gives boost to the talk of Third Front in the run up to the 2014 polls. What makes this meeting interesting, and lends it political significance is the list of invitees.
Along with senior leaders of the Left parties, other leaders expected on the dais are: Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav, Janata Dal (United) leader and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, JD(U) President Sharad Yadav, Janata Dal (Secular) chief and former Prime Minister Deve Gowda, Peoples Democratic Party leader Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, Jharkhand Vikas Manch chief and former BJP leader Babulal Marandi, besides the representatives of AIADMK supremo and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa and BJD chief and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. But, the Left has kept Trinamool Congress at a distance for now.
After the United Front regime (1996-98), Nitish Kumar, Mulayam Singh Yadav and Left leaders would be sharing a platform for the first time. Though the Left leaders are maintaining that the convention is meant to protect the country from communalism, the platform gives enough space for not just the pre-poll or post-poll alliances, but also signifies that these parties are on the same page. In fact, the convention would also bring together civil society personalities who have been holding fort against communalism, thus aiming to send a wider message to the electorate on political choices available before them, rather than just choose between the Congress and the BJP.
Even the leaders agree in private that this convention could be the beginning of formation of Third Front in case of fractured verdict in the General Elections.
However, the potential danger to this formation could be the ambitions of the satraps. In case of a fractured verdict scenario, musical chairs game may be played like in the United Front regime since Mulayam, Jayalalithaa, even Sharad Yadav are potential PM candidates. Changing the political equations, the process of convening the convention at Talkatora Stadium in the national capital itself started with contribution. According to sources, the cost of convening the convention is being shared among the Left parties, SP and JD(U). “Contribution means commitment,” says one of the organisers.
“The main objective of the convention is to mobilise people in defence of the country’s unity and integrity,” said senior CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury. He said communal organisations always raise issues like Ram Temple every time before elections to electorally benefit political parties. “To heighten communal tension is politically and electorally beneficial for these parties. But this way, they endanger the secular democratic fabric and pose a real threat to the integrity of the country. It is essential that we join hands to fight this communal menace,” he added. Though the convention is meant to discuss the recent communal incidents in the country, leaders will also expect to raise the issue of keeping both the Congress and BJP out of power.
Left leaders maintain that Third Front could be formed only after polls. Yechury said, “We must realise from past experiences that coalition governments come into existence in the post-poll scenario.” However, he said that people are seeking relief from both the BJP and Congress. “We will provide that alternative to the Congress and BJP. After the polls it all depends on numbers and acceptability,” he said. Talking about the two other key ‘unattached’ leaders, Yechury said Patnaik is keen but his participation has become uncertain after the cyclone and would send his representative. Similarly, AIADMK chief Jayalalithaa would depute representative to the convention. Though both Patnaik and Jayalalithaa are not attending personally, mere participation of their representatives will have greater significance in the future.
According to Yechury, the alliance will contest in 140 of the 200 constituencies in Rajasthan and still talks are on to rope in state-level secular parties so that the alliance could contest all the seats.