'Rahul's fear forcing Mulayam to form third front'

Varanasi, Apr 24: Union Minister for Science and Technology KapilSibal today alleged that afraid of the rising popularity of Congressleader Rahul Gandhi, Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav isworking for formation of a third front in national politics.

''The unstoppable wave of Mr Gandhi's popularity has compelled theUP CM to take shelter in the club of three former chief ministers,including AIADMK chief J Jayalalitha, TDP president Chandra Babu Naiduand INLD president Om Prakash Chautala,'' Mr Sibal told newspersonshere.

Recent meetings in Allahabad and Bareilly for formation of thethird front suggest Mr Yadav afraid of popular wave of support for theAmethi MP, is working to form the front in national politics, Mr Sibalmaintained.

Mr Sibal further said the third front being proposed by Mr Yadavincludes INLD, TDP, AIADMK and AGP, who were BJP allies in the past.''This means the new third front will be nothing, but BJP's thirdfront.'' ''Ye aur kuch nahi BJP ka Apna Dal hoga'' (the third frontwill be nothing but BJP's own party).

Former Congress spokesperson Mohan Prakash joining the anti-thirdfront chorus said fronts in national politics have been formed in therecent past to associate with either of the two national parties -- BJPor Congress.

''The first experiment of rainbow coalition was initiated byformer PM V P Singh, whose National Front Government in 1989 wassupported from outside by BJP. Then in 1996, the Congress replicatedthe same formula to support the United Front government led by H D DevGowda and later I K Gujral. Then came the 13 days, 11 months and fouryear NDA governments led by BJP stalwart Atal Behari Vajpayee,'' herecounted.

Mr Prakash further said when the Congress-led UPA is already insaddle at the Centre and the NDA-led by BJP is the prime oppositionblock, then the UP CM should make it clear for which of the two blocksis the third front being formed.

''Any alliance or front is based on the political philosophy ofcommon taste and common interest, but there is no commonality betweenthe Cong led UPA and Mr Yadav or his prospective third front partners.On the contrary be it the TDP, AIADMK, AGP or INLD all have alignedwith the BJP in the past and have been removed from power in concernedstates by the Congress only,'' Mr Prakash maintained.

''This makes it obvious that Mr Yadav is forming the third front to help the BJP only.''

UNI