Why the Left needs the Third Front?

New Delhi: The fresh coat of paint on the door leading to the conference room of Tripura Bhavan betrayed enthusiasm and urgency. Inside, over a dozen leaders from 11 different parties were busy chalking out a joint charter of programs.

Call them the Third Front or the alternative front - Sharad Yadav of the Janata Dal (United) suggested First Front - the Left and the regional parties have once again forged a common front to offer an alternative to the NDA and the UPA. (Nitish, Mulayam in 11-party front to battle Congress, BJP in Lok Sabha polls)

Their rivals though use far less charitable terms. From seasonal front to pipe dream, mainstream parties like the Congress and the BJP share similar views when it comes to the Third Front. Both argue that when it comes to forming a government at the Centre, these parties would need to ally with a national party. In fact, history too shows that the winner takes away quite a few allies.

There are portents already that it will not be a smooth ride. The Biju Janata Dal didn't turn up for the Delhi meeting yesterday. BJD chief Naveen Patnaik said it is too early to talk about any front now. Assam Gana Parishad chief P K Mahanta called up to say that he wouldn't make it as his mother was unwell. But hours later, an AGP  spokesperson indicated that the party might not be averse to tying up with the BJP instead.

Down south, J Jayalalithaa, who had announced a seat-sharing pact with the Left parties only a fortnight ago, released a list of her party the AIADMK's candidates - for all 40 Tamil Nadu seats. The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister though announced that she would withdraw her candidates from the seats where the Left fields their nominees. 

Then, there is the traditional Third Front tussle. There are almost as many Prime Ministers in waiting as participants in the front. "Madam Jayalalithaa, in my presence had said that these are issues to be taken up after the elections " declared the Left's Prakash Karat. Mulayam Singh Yadav and Nitish Kumar, seen as PM hopefuls sat beside him, as did HD Deve Gowda, who had pipped Mulayam to the post many years ago.

So why has the Left once again gone around cobbling an alliance of regional parties? The answer, perhaps, lies in the venue of the meeting. Tripura Bhavan is an unlikely place for hectic lobbying ahead of elections, but shrinking political space for the Left in Bengal and Kerala has left them only with Tripura where it still has a state government.

Ground reports from Bengal that has 42 Lok Sabha seats don't yet indicate a revival for the Left. In Kerala, the Congress is expected to give a tough fight to the Left despite an anti-incumbency factor from being in power in the state.

And the growth of the Aam Aadmi Party in north India can only spell trouble for cadre-driven parties like the CPM or CPI. The absence of a strong mass leader in the Hindi belt makes it that much more difficult for the Left. So, it's clear that any leader interested in enthusing the cadre, must come up with a plan that affords them space, both in politics and the media.

And perhaps that is exactly what the Left leaders are seeking to do. But the challenge is how long will this alliance last and what are its options if they were to choose between allowing a BJP-led coalition to form the next government or extending support to the Congress  to stop the BJP?

"We are right now concentrating on fighting the elections. What happens after the elections is something we will have to discuss. We can't say anything now," answers Prakash Karat. Clearly, Left strategy won't just be about winning the election but also staying relevant in national politics.