Alternative to BJP, Congress – Third Front

What, where, when, why, who and how - The hot topic of the week is broken down into simple Q and A.

March 11, 2014 12:57 pm | Updated May 19, 2016 07:48 am IST

130501 - Third front,  Cartoonscape - Third front

130501 - Third front, Cartoonscape - Third front

What’s happening?

Tamil Nadu’s All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) and the Left (including CPI and CPI (M)) parted ways last week over seat sharing disagreements in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.

The breakup has come as a blow to the Third Front, signaling the regional party’s withdrawal from the 11-party bloc.

The Third Front, whose common goal is to keep dominant parties – the Bharatiya Janata Party and Indian National Congress – out of power at the Centre, also seems poised for more withdrawals. It is speculated that the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and the JD(S) also look set to break ties, say reports.

What is Third Front?

On February 25, the third front (an initiative of the Left Front) was formed comprising seven regional and four Left-leaning parties. It declared itself as an alternative to the main parties – opposition BJP and incumbent Congress.

Parties currently included are the Communist Party of India, Communist Party of India (Marxist), Revolutionary Socialist Party, All India Forward Bloc, Samajwadi Party, Biju Janata Dal, Janata Dal (United), Janata Dal (Secular) Asom Gana Parishad, People’s Party of Punjab, and Jharkhand Vikas Morcha

What does history say about an alternative government?

Non-BJP and non-Congress governments have a history of failure in India. Such a government has ruled India twice – from1989 to 1991 and from 1996 to 1998. But it fell apart before a full term due to internal contradictions.

1988 to 1991

National Front was a coalition led by Janata Dal and it formed a government in 1988 under the prime ministership of V.P. Singh. Alliance parties included Janata Dal, DMK, TDP, Asom Gana Parishad and Indian Congress (Socialist) and Jharkhand Mukti Mocha. They were supported from outside by the Left parties and BJP.

1996 to 1998

United Front was formed after 1996 LS polls. Janata Dal, SP, DMK, TDP, AGP, All India Indira Congress, Left Front (4 parties), Tamil Maanila Congress, National Conference and Maharasgtrawadi Gomantak Party formed 13-party alliance to form a government with H.D. Deve Gowda as the Prime Minister. It was supported from outside by the Congress. But it revoked support in 1997 and agreed to compromise to support a new government under I.K. Gujral. His government also collapsed in 1998.

What do critics say about the Third Front?

Critics say that such a coalition of parties with different ideologies and political ambitions will not work out. It will either be a non-starter or unsustainable. There will be leadership clashes as there is competition for the Prime Minister’s post from the likes of Bihar's Nitish Kumar and UP's Mulayam Singh Yadav.

What are the chances of such a coalition forming a government?

In the current Lok Sabha, the parties represented by the third front have 92 seats (including AIADMK). If no major party wins an outright majority of 272 seats and fails to form a winning coalition, a third front government might have a chance.

How is the prospect for formation of Federal Front, a Trinamool Congress initiative?

It is said that Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee is reviving talks about Federal Front. Trinamool is in talks with the Telugu Desam Party and YSR Congress and is set to reach out to the Asom Gana Parishad. Incidentally, after parting ways with the Left, AIADMK supremo and Tamil Nadu CM Jayalalithaa has rang up Mamata triggering speculations of a post-poll alliance between the two.

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