Third Front's post-poll meet called off

The Third Front, which came into being less than a year ago on a non-Congress, non-Bharatiya Janata Party platform, is in tatters after its debacle in the Lok Sabha polls.

The proposed meeting to review the post-election scenario and chalk out their future course of action has been called off, while a key partner Janata Dal - Secular 'may consider' supporting the Congress-led coalition.

Bahujan Samaj Party supremo and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati is expected to arrive in the national capital on Monday, but no meetings are scheduled with any of the Left leaders. Telugu Desam Party chief N Chandrababu Naidu is unlikely to come to Delhi.

However, Communist Party of India general secretary A B Bardhan said the Third Front partners "are with us. All of them have to see now what kind of steps they need to take, what policies to pursue to emerge stronger in the future".

On Monday's meeting, his Foward Bloc counterpart Debabrata Biswas said, "There is no need for the meeting now. The Front was floated to form the government at the Centre." However, the Left parties, who met in New Delhi on Sunday, said they would "continue cooperation with the non-Congress, non-Bharatiya Janata Party allies".

Asked whether aligning with parties like BSP, TDP and JD-S was a tactical blunder, Revolutionary Socialist Party general secretary T J Chandrachoodan said, "I do not think so. Our political line was right."