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Wednesday, Feb 23, 2005

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Third front likely to emerge: Fernandes

By Our Special Correspondent

BANGALORE, FEB. 22. The convener of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and former Defence Minister, George Fernandes, told newsmen here today that there was a likelihood of a third front emerging in the near future. However, the Opposition, the National Democratic Alliance would not disintegrate in the process.

Mr. Fernandes said there could be further polarisation in the ruling United Progressive Alliance after the Bihar, Jharkhand and Haryana elections.

His indication on the emergence of the third front was made with reference to the efforts made by the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, Mulayam Singh Yadav, in favour of constituting such a political entity. Further, the Left parties would also be up against the Congress in the coming Assembly elections. The Left parties had already started accusing the Congress of not sticking to the National Common Minimum Programme, he said.

Differences

There were also differences among the Left parties — the former West Bengal Chief Minister, Jyoti Basu, had gone on record that he preferred a Congress candidate as the Chief Minister of Bihar while the Polit Bureau member, Sitaram Yechuri, had taken a different stand.

Asked if the Bihar election results would impact the UPA Government, Mr. Fernandes said the NDA would emerge victorious and the former Union Minister, Nitish Kumar, would become the Chief Minister if the NDA obtains a majority.

Mr. Fernandes called on the ailing former Chief Minister of Karnataka and Chairman of the Planning and Programme Implementation Committee of the Janata Dal (United), S.R. Bommai, at a private hospital where the latter was admitted a week ago.

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