last time a prominent face in the left parties led initiative of Federal Front of 14 parties, Jharkhand Vikas Morcha chief Babulal Marandi is set to skip the proposed meeting this time. On the call of JD-U the meeting of top leaders of the parties is scheduled to meet on February 5 in Delhi.
“I have been invited for the meeting but due to a party programme at Jamshedpur I will not be able to attend it. Though, our party supports the idea and we are for a non-Congress non-BJP bloc,” said Babulal Marandi on Monday.
About two months ago leaders like Prakash Karat of CPM, Sharad Yadav of JD-U, HD Deve Gowda of JD(S) and many from South took part in the meeting that discussed modalities and challenges in taking so many regional parties on a single platform. Extension of the effort is by Bihar Nitish Kumar who is holding talks with Samajwadi Party. Though the JD-U had contacted Marandi and even extended the date earlier fixed as February 3. “The meeting was to take place on February 3 but Babulal Marandi said that his party has organised a rally. Thus the date has been deferred for February 5. Marandiji is our undisputed leader in Jharkhand,” JD-U MP KC Tyagi told The Pioneer.
Tyagi added that his party was also in talks with the JVM separately for Jharkhand which can be important in the ways of putting alliance of regional parties. “We don’t have ambition other than strengthening non-Congress non-BJP forces and have coordinated efforts. There is no discussion regarding seat sharing,” said Tyagi. Irrespective of the effort, differences existing among the parties have the danger to keep it fragile politically. Amalgamation of 14-odd parties can be considered more an effort to show an existence, especially when last Parliament session of the incumbent lok Sabha is around the corner.