Amid talk of a possible realignment of parties for formation of a “Third Front”, the Bharatiya Janata Party on Sunday said it may discuss the issue with its National Democratic Alliance allies.
The Trinamool Congress, the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the Biju Janata Dal besides NDA ally the Janata Dal (United), have come on the same platform in opposing policies of the central government such as the formation of National Counter-terrorism Centre among other issues.
This has led to speculation that such like-minded parties may come together to form a “Third Front”.
After a meeting of the BJP Parliamentary Party Executive, its senior leader S.S. Ahluwalia said such a suggestion could be discussed in the NDA meeting.
“If there is any such suggestion, we will discuss it there (NDA meeting),” he said when asked to comment on Nitish Kumar’s suggestion to expand the NDA and the possibility of the emergence of a “Third Front”.
On the invitation by its ally Shiromani Akali Dal to the Trinamool for the swearing-in ceremony in Punjab, Mr. Ahluwalia said, “Parkash Singh Badal has registered a historic win and he has invited all his non-Congress friends. This initiative was taken by him and we welcome the decision of some people who have accepted this invite.”
When asked about an article in the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh mouthpiece Panchjanya suggesting that the BJP had more leaders than workers on ground, he said, “I have also heard the Congress president saying something like that.”
