The event titled 'Convention for People’s Unity Against Communalism' was attended by SP's Mulayam Singh Yadav, CPI-M's Prakash Karat, JD-S' HD Deve Gowda, JD-U leaders Nitish Kumar and Sharad Yadav. But, parties like AIADMK and BJP preferred to send their representatives.
This meet was also attended by CPI, the Nationalist Congress Party, the Revolutionary Socialist Party, the Forward Bloc, the Republican Party of India, the Asom Gana Parishad, the Jharkhand Vikas Morcha and the People’s Party of Punjab.
TIMELINE
JDU leader and Bihar CM Nitish Kumar, though, stressed the need for unity against communalism, but discarded the immediate possibility of any third front."We are being asked whether a new front is being formed. It is not appropriate to speculate. As of today, there is nothing. But we will have to think and unite against communalism, terrorism and fascism,"
- Nitish Kumar, Chief Minister, Bihar
Centre STAGE
Some marginal parties in Jammu and Kashmir floated a 'Third Front' namely: People's United Front (PUF)This meet was also attended by one of the ruling UPA at center - NCP. NCP indicated that it has kept its options open:
"This is an era of coalition politics and in such a situation, you need to keep options open to work with other parties."Congress just ignored its ally's participation in the meeting, BJP called it a mere ritual.
- D P Tripathi, Senior NCP leader
"A ritual is on in Delhi which takes place before every Lok Sabha election. This is a quest for an illusory Third Front but the Third Front is history. It has no relevance for the present nor any promise for the future." - Ravi Shankar Prasad, Senior BJP Leader
BOTTOMLINE
"It was necessary for secular and democratic forces to counter communal forces in a united manner," said the resolution at the convention.As the TV News channels termed the event as flop show - Interestingly, some marginal parties in Jammu and Kashmir floated a 'Third Front' namely: People's United Front (PUF).
