Mulayam's 'Third Front' dream surfaces, stages dharna

New Delhi, Aug 31:

chief

is all set to gang up against both the Congress and the BJP in the

block allocation scandal that rocked the country recently. In a bid to showcase his political clout, he has joined hands with non-UPA and non-NDA members to carry out a dharna outside Parliament.

Parties like the CPI, CPI(M), RSP, Forward Block, TDP, BJD and the AIADMK are taking part in the sit-in before the Parliament house complex besides the SP. They are demanding that normalcy be restored in the Parliament after it was stalled by the Opposition for close to two weeks. They are also seeking a probe into the coalgate scam by a sitting Supreme Court judge which they consider is the only way to end the impasse.

The move is seen as Mulayam's move to revive the Third Front and his political ambitions in the Centre coming to the fore. Mulayam has been quoted as saying to reporters on Thursday, "Our party, along with the CPI, CPI(M), TDP and BJD have decided to stage a dharna in Parliament tomorrow. We want a probe into it (coal block allocation) and the guilty should be punished."

With the BJP remaining firm on their demand for the Prime Minister's resignation in the coal block issue, the Congress have also sharpened their defences citing that they are ready for a debate in the House on the same. The Congress party has also countered the Opposition's allegations by saying that the BJP feared being exposed in case there is a debate.

The CPI(M)'s Sitaram Yechury threw a spanner in the works by commenting that both the Congress and the BJP were not keen on a debate on the coal scam and said, "Many things will come out of the cupboard. That's why I said it was match-fixing."

With Mulayam keeping his game plan close to his chest on what his intentions are post the 2014 elections, the SP right now is remaining equidistant from both the Congress and the BJP. But there are reports that in case he decides to launch a Third Front, Mulayam may seek the backing of the Congress.

OneIndia News