Third Front to take shape today

All is poised for the launch of the third front, which is seeking to emerge as an alternative to the combines spearheaded by the Congress and BJP, at a rally near here on Thursday. The Third Front, an amalgamation of CPI, CPI-M, Telangana Rashtra Samithi, Telugu Desam, AIADMK, Forward Bloc and RSP, besides founding member JD(S), is likely to take shape in this BJP-ruled state which has seen many a watershed in the country’s political history since the formation of non-Congress government at centre in 1988.

JD(S) leader Deve Gowda had earlier claimed that BJD led by Orissa chief minister Naveen Patnaik, which had broken ties with BJP, had agreed to join the Front. But BJD had made it clear that it had not made up its mind on the issue. The JD(S) chief, who is playing a key role in cobbling up the third front, had said on Tuesday that BJD would not take part in the rally.

Another major absence is likely to be that of AIADMK chief Jayalalitha. Party sources said she would depute AIADMK parliamentary party leader V Maitheriyan to attend the rally on her behalf but did not cite any reason for staying away.

To ensure that the event did not suffer from any shortcomings, Gowda himself has been supervising the arrangements.