Congress, BJP dismiss Mulayam`s talk of Third Front

Both the Congress and BJP on Monday dismissed SP leader Mulayam Singh Yadav's talk of a Third Front for a national alternative as a "non-starter", nothing new and an "enduring mirage" of Indian politics. Yadav, while asking like-minded parties ahead of the next Lok Sabha elections to come together, said on Sunday it is "high time" parties which have the common goal to achieve social change come together as in Maharashtra, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. Yadav, whose party with 22 Lok Sabha MPs provides crucial outside support to Congress-led UPA, had also said that coalition politics has come to stay in the country, "We work according to the situation, whatever he (Yadav) has said is not something new," Singh said. Asked whether Congress is worried after Mulayam's statement, he said "Congress is on its own track. Our track is the policy of Gandhiji, social secular and ideology of Jawaharlal Nehru. Therefore we are not bothered." Union minister and Congress leader Manish Tewari said that if one looks at the history of coalition politics in India in the last 20 years, the reality is that a Third front or a Fourth Front or a Fifth Front has been the "most enduring mirage of Indian politics." BJP leader Balbir Punj said Third or Fourth Front will continue to be in news for "wrong reasons" but it will be a "non-starter". "I don't think any such coalaition will come up". Key NDA ally JD (U) appeared to agree with BJP's view. "We do not think there is any scope for Third Front. People will give a clear mandate this time. It is true that this is coalition era so there will be coalition government. But I do not see any chance of Third Front," said JD(U) leader Devesh Chandra Thakur. UPA ally NCP appeared to respond positively to Yadav's stand. "Era of coalition government has began. Different parties with common understanding and a programme will come together to form the government and political formation," NCP general secretary DP Tripathi said.