After quitting Janata Parivar, SP forms ‘Third Front’ for Bihar

Lucknow: Days after breaking away from the 'Grand Alliance' of JD(U)-RJD-Congress, Samajwadi Party on Thursday announced formation of a coalition along with NCP, NPP and Samajwadi Janata Dal (Democratic) to contest the upcoming Bihar elections as 'Third Front'.

"We will contest Bihar Assembly polls with SJD-D led by former Union Minister Devendra Prasad Yadav, NCP and NPP headed by former Lok Sabha Speaker P A Sangma as Third Front alternative in Bihar," SP National General Secretary Ram Gopal Yadav said addressing a joint press conference with leaders of these parties.

"The coordination committee of Third Front will meet in Patna tomorrow to decide candidates for the first phase of the Bihar polls for which filing of nominations have already started," Devendra Yadav said. 49 of the 243 Assembly seats will go to polls in the first phase on October 12 and the last date for filing of nominations for first phase is September 23.

The announcement came nearly a fortnight after Mulayam Singh Yadav-led SP walked out of the Janata Parivar in Bihar following differences over the number of seats.

Samajwadi Party, which has negligible presence in Bihar, had been given five seats by the JD(U)-RJD-Congress alliance. Former RJD leader Raghunath Jha, who formally joining SP at the venue of the press meet, said he left Lalu Prasad's party as he was not getting "due respect" there.

"I thank Mulayam Singh Yadav for accepting me in his party fold," he said.

Asked about the Front's chief ministerial candidate, Ram Gopal Yadav said it has not been decided so far. About parting ways with the alliance of Lalu and Nitish Kumar (JD-U), Ram Gopal said "it (alliance) was a conspiracy. Had we joined them, we would have not only lost the symbol but also the party."

On allegation of rival parties that SP was helping BJP in Bihar by splitting of opposition votes, Ram Gopal said, "Let them make allegations. In politics, such charges are made." Besides Jha, JD(U) MLC Munna Singh joined SP.

Assembly polls in Bihar will be fought in five phases between October 12 and November 5 in a high-stakes battle, seen as a major popularity test for NDA spearheaded by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and incumbent Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who is in alliance with RJD and Congress.

Polls for the 243-seat Assembly would be held on October 12, 16, 28, November 1 and 5. Counting to votes will take place on November 8.