Gowda offers to get Third Front together

Bangalore: The victory of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in elections held to Delhi Legislative Assembly has given hope for revival of the Third Front, with Janata Dal (S) patriarch H.D. Deve Gowda agreeing to take the lead to bring together like-minded regional parties before the Lok Sabha polls.

Gowda would invite leaders of regional parties to address a rally in Bangalore in the last week of January or first week of February 2014 as part of the strategy to revive the Third Front. After the Delhi elections, leaders of around 15 to 16 regional parties held a meeting in Delhi to analyze the results. These leaders felt that regional parties could join hands to fight against the Congress and the BJP and requested Deve Gowda to take the lead and organize the first meeting in Bangalore.

Disclosing the prospect of revival of the Third Front at JD (S) Lok Sabha elections preparatory meeting here on Saturday, Gowda said “Leaders who approached me about formation of the Third Front are serious to take on the Congress and the BJP in coming Lok Sabha elections. I will extend full co-operation to form the Third Front to fight against Congress and BJP.” 

Later Gowda told media persons, “The Third Front will take shape at the national level. In State, we will fight polls without an alliance with any like-minded political parties. In Kerala, however, we have entered into an alliance with Left parties. That arrangement will continue.” Later, H.D. Kumaraswamy said the first meeting of the Third Front will be held in Bangalore or on the outskirts of
the city.