George Fernandes associates to form anti-Congress forum

A bunch of associates of ailing socialist leader George Fernandes have come together to launch Samata Manch, an anti-Congress political platform that is likely to partner BJP-led National Democratic Alliance ahead of 2014 Lok Sabha elections. Samata Manch will be launched on October 23, with an immediate aim to “liberate politics from secular vs communal line-up and discourse that Congress is deliberately working on ahead of elections.”

Samata Manch, with founders including sundry socialist leaders and rebels who have fallen out with Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, will be launched a week before Left parties are scheduled to organise a convention of secular parties against growing communal threats.” Nitin Gadkari is slated to represent BJP at launch of Samata Manch.

There is need to “reposition politics as a broad fight of non-Congress forces against misdeeds of UPA”, founders of Samata Manch, named after Samata Party floated by Fernandes, said.