A Third Front spearheaded by veteran politician Yashwant Sinha is about to foray into Bihar’s political arena to contest the upcoming assembly elections due in the state later this year. A non-NDA, non-UPA front, this is being seen as an attempt to provide a face that can match Nitish Kumar and act as a galvanising force for several veteran leaders of the state who are opposed to the leadership of both Nitish Kumar and Tejashwi Yadav.
Sinha is believed to be in consultations with several top leaders of the state who are averse to either to both the ‘Mahagathbandhan’ and NDA and will have the support of parties like Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM-S) led by Jeetan Ram Manjhi, Rashtriya Lok Samta Party (RLSP) led by Upendra Kushwaha, and leaders like Mukesh Sahni, Pappu Yadav, Sharad Yadav. These leaders also have issue against Tejashwi Yadav within the Mahagathbandhan.
Such voices have erupted even from within the state leadership of the Congress giving rise to speculations that as the elections are nearer it might be difficult for Tejashwi Yadav to keep the flock intact. The state also has several fence sitters who can switch sides at the sight of an opportunity which can offer some kind of challenge to the present alliances within the state.
The Daily Guardian tried to talk to Sinha, but he refused to divulge any details. When asked about the possibility of him leading the Third Front, he said, “I will not say anything at this juncture. I do have plans to come to Bihar in near future and I will be talking to the press only then and there.”
The JD-U leadership has rubbished the idea. Talking to The Daily Guardian party spokesperson Rajeev Ranjan said, “He is a leader of yesteryears and a man of contradictions. He can’t be a reliable face.”