SP, RJD, LJP unite to add weight

NEW DELHI: The fourth front, comprising the Samajwadi Party, RJD and LJP, has decided to negotiate the government-formation arrangement at the Centre as one block, even as it initiated efforts to rope in Telugu megastar Chiranjeevi for their power project.

Leaders of the fourth front got into the business of exploiting the possible post-poll scenarios immediately after the conclusion of the fifth and final phase of polls. Channels of communication with Congress were resumed soon after in an attempt to manage the arithmetic to form the next government at the Centre.

Seeking to enhance their bargaining power so as to emerge as a powerful block, the fourth front partners have decided to lure more partners into their alliance. Chiranjeevi���s Praja Rajyam Party is on top of their list.
As most exit polls have predicted, PRP was likely to emerge as a crucial player in Andhra Pradesh. Even though it was not expected to win many Lok Sabha seats from the state, it was shown as doing well in the assembly polls. With all exit poll results pointing towards a hung assembly, PRP���s role had become important.

PRP founder had met Samajwadi Party general secretary Amar Singh in the run-up to the polls, and had expressed his solidarity with the fourth front. Mr Amar Singh has now initiated efforts to persuade the popular film star, who���s expected to create ripples in the state���s polity by making a spectacular entry, to join the alliance formally.

Besides facilitating the front���s task of leveraging its numbers to wangle a just and equitable power-sharing deal, the proposed alliance was also calculated to enable it to create a foothold in Andhra Pradesh.

Elections over, the Samajwadi Party and its alliance partners have kicked off power-sharing talks with Congress. Accompanied by his trusted lieutenant Amar Singh, party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav met LJP chief Ram Vilas Paswan on Thursday afternoon to chalk out their future plans. While agreeing to meet again on May 17, a day after the declaration of Lok Sabha election results, they also decided coordinate their reflexes in the government-formation deliberations.