Third Front in tatters, scheduled post-poll meet called off

The Third Front, which came into being less than a year ago on a non-Congress, non-BJP platform, is in tatters after the electoral debacle and the partners seem to be drifting apart.     

The proposed meeting to review the post-election scenario and chalk out their future course of action has been called off, while a key partner JD(S) "may consider" supporting the Congress-led coalition.     

BSP supremo and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati is expected to arrive in the national capital tomorrow, but no meetings are scheduled with any of the Left leaders.

TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu is unlikely to come to Delhi.     

However, CPI General Secretary A B Bardhan said the Third Front partners "are with us. All of them have to see now what kind of steps they need to take, what policies to pursue to emerge stronger in the future".     

On tomorrow's meeting, his Foward Bloc counterpart Debabrata Biswas said, "There is no need for the meeting now. The Front was floated to form government at the Centre."     

However, the Left parties, who met here today, said they would "continue our cooperation with the non-Congress, non-BJP allies".     

Asked whether aligning with parties like BSP, TDP and JD(S) was a tactical blunder, RSP General Secretary T J Chandrachoodan said "I do not think so. Our political line was right."