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New Delhi
By Sujay Mehdudia
With this front having the blessings of three former Prime Ministers, Chandra Shekhar, V.P. Singh and H.D. Deve Gowada, the political equations in Delhi politics could well undergo a change in the near future. "It is true that consultations have been held with various leaders and an alternative to the Congress and the BJP is being forged. Some discussions have also been held among various leaders and a final shape would soon be given to this new political outfit,'' the Janata Dal (S) MLA, Shoiab Iqbal, told The Hindu. And the man behind this massive effort to re-organise forces in Delhi is none other than the former Congressman and Lok Janshakti Party senior vice-president, Ramvir Singh Bidhuri. Mr. Bidhuri, who has held hectic parleys with various national and local leaders during the last few weeks, said Mr. Chandrashekhar was very positive about the emergence of this new front. At the same time, the matter also had the support of the Lok Janshakti Party president, Ram Vilas Paswan, who was very receptive to the idea of forging a front before the Assembly elections. In fact, a meeting of some leaders of this yet to emerge front was held in Delhi on Monday in which Mr. Iqbal, Mr. Bidhuri and former Lieutenant-Governor, Ramesh Bhandari, were present. Preliminary discussion were held about the objectives of this exercise and the need to organise a more forceful and effective alternative to the Congress and BJP two faces of the same coin. In fact, the Jan Chetna Manch of Mr. V.P.Singh, has also been roped in this effort. Mr. Bidhuri said discussions had also been held with Mr. Singh and Mr. Chandrashekhar along with Mr. Deve Gowda. They all have agreed to come together on the same platform and campaign for the candidates of the Third Front. Mr. Singh has given his nod for addressing rallies in JJ clusters and slums areas before the on set of the election process. "When these leaders will go out together, things will be different. We will target both the NDA Government as well as the Sheila Dikshit Government which had failed on all fronts and to protect the interests of the minorities,'' Mr. Shoiab Iqbal remarked. In fact, during his tenure in the Janata Dal, Mr. Bidhuri had contested Lok Sabha elections from East Delhi and secured nearly 1.75 lakh votes leading to the defeat of the Congress stalwart, H.K.L. Bhagat. Similarly, when the Janata Dal contested the 1993 Assembly election in Delhi, it won four seats but played a major role in the defeat of the Congress candidates in 28 seats. It could not do much during the 1998 Assembly polls and 1999 Lok Sabha polls as the party broke into splinter groups and its main motivator in shape of Mr. Bidhuri had joined the Congress. But the realignment of forces is once again on the anvil and this well create problems for the Congress as well as the BJP. "The focus of Mr. Chandrashekhar and Mr.Singh's campaign in Delhi would be on Poorvanchal votes who have got a step-motherly treatment from both BJP and Congress. This more than 30-lakh strong vote bank will decide the fortunes of any political outfit in future and this will be our target along with the votes of minorities,'' Mr.Bidhuri stated.
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