Talk of Third Front continues after assembly elections

The talk of Third Front and mid-term polls in the wake of the mauling Congress and BJP got in the assembly elections continued to do the rounds on Monday but not many political leaders actually appeared to be giving credence to such a possibility.

Whispers about a Third Front also grew in the light of the fact that Akali Dal and Samajwadi Party, which have won elections in Punjab and Uttar Pradesh respectively, sent out invites to leaders of parties and Chief Ministers across the divide.

Akhilesh Yadav, who will be Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, welcomed the debate on Third Front as a "good beginning" but refused to go beyond saying that.

"My priority now now is to set UP on the road of prosperity," he said  when asked by reporters further on the issue.

However, Biju Janata Dal, whose supremo and Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, has, of late, tried to united non-Congress Chief Ministers on federal issues, said efforts are on to form a "federal front" of like-minded parties.

"We are not not for Third Front or Fourth Front.  We are for a federal front. We are in the making of a federal front," BJD leader B Mahtab told reporters.

On his part, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said his government had "all the numbers" to face any challenge in Parliament.  He has invited leaders of all UPA constituents for dinner tomorrow at his residence coinciding with  the budget session.

On his meeting with leaders of various parties in Parliament, where he had come to attend the President's address today, Akhilesh Yadav denied his party was in touch with Left parties and others to establish a Third Front.

Decisions on Third Front would be taken by his party chief Mulayam Singh Yadavv and other leaders, he added.

However, leaders like Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar or RJD leader Lalu Prasad discount the possibility of either a Third Front or snap polls.

Kumar said the NDA was prepared for mid-term Lok Sabha polls but maintained that UPA would "cling" to power till its full term.

On speculation about revival of the Third Front, he said the contours of such a front were yet to take shape. Kumar also made it clear that his party JD(U) was part of the NDA.

Lalu Prasad also dismissed all talk of Third Front as unnecessary speculation.

National Conference leader and Union Minister Farooq Abdullah, who has been invited to the swearing in ceremony in Punjab, sought to play it down saying Prakash Singh Badal was like a father figure to him and he would attend the function "if permitted".

However, he hastened to add that he has "work" in Parliament in on that day.  "By the invitation (to him), no storm has struck.  I am loyal to UPA," Abdullah added.

Replying to a question about the talk of Third Front, Trinamool Congress leader and Union Minister Sultan Ahmed said the issue has to be discussed.

"We have some issues like the NCTC but these can be resolved through discussion," he said.

His party supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee declined to take questions on the possibility of snap polls at a press conference in Kolkata.