I don't think there is a Third Front: Advani

NEW DELHI: Arguing that the mere presence of political parties which are neither with UPA nor NDA does not mean there is a Third Front, BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate L K Advani says many of these regional parties would join NDA if it is in a position to form a government.

"The mere presence of political parties other than those which are with the Congress or the BJP does not mean there is a Third Front. I don't think a Third Front exists," Advani told PTI in an interview.

Advani said for most of these parties -- like the Left, TDP, TRS, BJD and JD(S) which call themselves the Third Front -- Congress was the main political opponent in the states where they had a strong presence.

The former Deputy Prime Minister said some of the regional parties did not want to ally with BJP-led NDA before the elections. "These parties fear that if they join the BJP alliance Muslims will not vote for them. But JD(U) is one example where it did not lose Muslim votes," he said.

Advani expressed confidence that such parties would join the NDA after the elections but refused to name them.

"The BJP has made India a bi-polar polity by ending Congress monopoly. Though I cannot say India has a two-party system, it is definitely not multi-polar," Advani said.