Third Front parties unite in parliament with a common agenda

Will not allow Congress to pass anti-corruption bills to use it as their election agenda

Putting up a united face in parliament, leaders from the Left, SP, JD-U and other parties Wednesday said the Third Front would now work on "a common agenda" in both houses.

"This is the first step after the Oct 23 meeting. We are aligning non-Congress, non-BJP parties in both houses," JD-U chief Sharad Yadav said at a joint press conference after a meeting of Third Front parties in the Parliament House complex.

Leaders from the Left, Samajwadi Party, Janata Dal-United, Janata Dal (Secular), AIADMK, Biju Janta Dal, Asom Gana Parishad, and Jharkhand Vikas Morcha were present at the press conference.

"We will have a common agenda, and we will take up issues of concern to the common man in parliament," CPI-M leader Sitaram Yechury said.

"Only the Third Front can promote secularism in the country. The Congress has aligned with communal forces," Yechury said.

Yechury also blamed the Congress party for the non-functioning of parliament.

"Congress is primarily to be blamed for non-functioning of parliament. We will not allow them to pass anti-corruption bills and use it as their election agenda," he said.