Indian politics has moved a long way from the shadow of Congress era when opposition hardly existed due to presence of stalwarts like Nehru and Mrs Gandhi. Time and again leaders oppesed to ideology of Congress tried to form a political group that will provide an alternative , however ,history of such moves is not heartening. Third front refers to a group of parties and leaders who are not the part of the first front ie Congress or the second front ie BJP.The first major threat to the Congress was presented when Mr. Kamraj revolted but this lasted for a few years and finally politics of Indian once again became personality oriented. At some occasions Jan Sangh or communist parties tried to break this monopoly but their success was limited to a few States. Therefore the question of rise of third front in Indian politics was non existent.The first major move in this direction was made in post emergency period when a group of opposition parties decided to form Janata Party under guidance of Loknayak Jai Prakash Narayan in 1977.It is interesting to note here that most of its leaders were either members of congress or their sufferings during the period of emergency made them anti congress.This front has got tremendous success in the election and Morar ji Desai became Prime minister. But again this experiment lasted for two and half years and again Congress party came to power. So first experiment with third front was a failure .
After the Bofors scandal again third front came to the power under leadership of V.P.Singh but due to its internal conflicts it lasted for merely one year. Again death of Rajeev Gandhi united Congress party and it reminded Indian political thinkers that so called third front is not feasible in this country. In post Narsimha Rao era once again chances of third front became bright and one after aother India had Mr.Dev Gauda and Mr.I.K.Gujral as PM. This was the best time for third front as Congress remained disunited and disillusioned. Lack of any big leader and aloofness of Gandhi family towards Congress affairs , provided an opportunity to the third front leaders to consolidate their position, however they failed to provide any United alternative to the people. Therefore politics became divided into two blocks-congress and BJP.But this period is full of twist and turn and it led to the growth of regional parties. Now this regional dimension of Indian politics has become flag bearer of the third front movement in India.
Regional leaders have great expectations and time and again they try to fulfill their hidden design and desire through formation of such political group. In the last election the third front idea wss floated but it failed to materialised. It looked like house divided from within and resentments were than agreement on every issue. Reasons are quite obvious every party wanted its leader to become PM.Besides this hindrance, ideological differences are another unmovable block . Again in 2014, once again theory of third front is being floated and look at the irony of the fact that it has leaders like Jay Lalita, Mamta Benerjee and Mulayam Singh Yadav asPM contenders.Since Communist Party is at its low ebb therefore it can sacrifice its rights for PM but how can above three leaders will surpress their aspirations.And even if they are able to surpress their desire then what about their ego and how they will satisfy their electorate for not being PM.
Therefore third front future hangs in a unique balance -it cannot form its own Government but surely it will make difficult for others to form their government. And who will be the worst sufferer. No doubt ,it is BJP, especially when it is not in a position to form its own government. The third front may bargain with Congress or it can even press hard to yield PM post.Only future will tell us about real story but till then let us wait and watch this everlasting Indian political drama which is often played before every election under pretext of stopping Communal forces to form government. Basically formation of the Third Front is a suitable example of political opportunism which is totally deprived of political and economic ideology. Therefore , existence of the Third Front seems to be awkward and worthless.Most of the parties who participated actively in formation of the Third Front have no stand on the major issues like corruption, election reforms, black money, skill development etc.What is more surprising, there is no seat arrangement between these parties but they are confident that outcome of next parliamentary election will be in favour of this front What a day dreaming.
After the Bofors scandal again third front came to the power under leadership of V.P.Singh but due to its internal conflicts it lasted for merely one year. Again death of Rajeev Gandhi united Congress party and it reminded Indian political thinkers that so called third front is not feasible in this country. In post Narsimha Rao era once again chances of third front became bright and one after aother India had Mr.Dev Gauda and Mr.I.K.Gujral as PM. This was the best time for third front as Congress remained disunited and disillusioned. Lack of any big leader and aloofness of Gandhi family towards Congress affairs , provided an opportunity to the third front leaders to consolidate their position, however they failed to provide any United alternative to the people. Therefore politics became divided into two blocks-congress and BJP.But this period is full of twist and turn and it led to the growth of regional parties. Now this regional dimension of Indian politics has become flag bearer of the third front movement in India.
Therefore third front future hangs in a unique balance -it cannot form its own Government but surely it will make difficult for others to form their government. And who will be the worst sufferer. No doubt ,it is BJP, especially when it is not in a position to form its own government. The third front may bargain with Congress or it can even press hard to yield PM post.Only future will tell us about real story but till then let us wait and watch this everlasting Indian political drama which is often played before every election under pretext of stopping Communal forces to form government. Basically formation of the Third Front is a suitable example of political opportunism which is totally deprived of political and economic ideology. Therefore , existence of the Third Front seems to be awkward and worthless.Most of the parties who participated actively in formation of the Third Front have no stand on the major issues like corruption, election reforms, black money, skill development etc.What is more surprising, there is no seat arrangement between these parties but they are confident that outcome of next parliamentary election will be in favour of this front What a day dreaming.
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