Third Front to form against Cong, MNF

Aizawl, Aug 31: In a significant development ahead of the 2008 Mizoram Assembly elections, political observers have hinted that a Third Front is in the making to take on the two largest parties the Congress and the ruling Mizo National Front(MNF).

A political analyst here today said, ''A Third Front is likely to be formed out of non-supporters of both the Congress and MNF, including the recently formed Mizoram Democratic Movement which is believed to be attached to the fast growing Zoram Kuthnathawktu Pawl (ZKP), a farmers' association.'' The proposed Third Front had been closely following the J Lalsangzuala-led Mizoram Congress Party (MCP) on whether it would snap ties with the MNF or maintain the alliance till the next state polls, sources said.

The MCP is likely to decide its future relationship with the MNF in the next monsoon session, sources added.

''Even though it has not been discussed officially, leaders of the non-Congress and non-MNF parties are maintaining constant contacts,'' sources said.

ZNP adviser Vanlalhruaia said, ''Except rumours, we have not received any official information about the Third Front. However, it is our party's strong stand that the next government must not be formed by the Congress or MNF.'' While the People's Right to Information and Development Implementing Society of Mizoram (PRISM), an anti-corruption organisation, made it clear that it would remain aloof from any political forces, other anti-incumbent organisations were relying on the probabilities of their coming to power.

The developments clearly indicate that none of the parties, expected to form the Third Front, has adequate strength to form a single party government in November 2008. It is also an indication that both the Congress and the MNF are not hot favourites.

Significantly, the regional groups have left the BJP out of their ambit.

A BJP insider claimed, ''The national opposition party is at the moment silently sharpening its tools to take on the MNF and Congress in a massive onslaught.'' While the Congress president would be the major hope for the party's success as witnessed even in the 2003 polls, the BJP had been maintaining a low profile to be considered of any consequence.

''Nobody in Mizoram even knows who the BJP president is at present or what activities the party has been up to for the past five years. Yet, if rumours are to be believed, the party is silently working to take on the MNF and the Congress to fill up the vacuum,'' political analysts speculated.

According to observers, the 'downward slide' of the MNF government had made it a 'political pariah' which no party wants to associate with. This might result in a straight fight between the Congress and the proposed Third Front for the November 2008 polls with the MNF playing the spoiler for the Congress, they said.

Some other political analysts believe that after experiencing regional party rule for ten years, people were now desperate for a national party rule.

UNI