Third Front all set to hug Naveen Patnaik

NEW DELHI: There is celebration in the Third Front camp with the BJD cosying up to it after snapping ties with the BJP. Eager to include the BJD in the ���secular��� fold, the Left is ready to put behind its disillusionment with the Naveen Patnaik government over the Kandhamal violence and his party���s 11-year long association with the BJP.

The BJD���s unexpected move has energised efforts of the non-BJP, non-Congress parties to forge a Third Front ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. The CPM and CPI leaders have already held talks with Mr Patnaik, who has indicated his willingness to join the Third Front.

Welcoming the BJD���s decision, CPM general secretary Prakash Karat said at a press conference here on Sunday that his party was happy about the turn of events. ���We are happy to hear the news of the BJD breaking off from the BJP and NDA. Politbureau member Sitaram Yechury is scheduled to meet Naveen Patnaik and other leaders,��� he said.

Mr Karat said that after the BJP���s withdrawal of support to the Naveen Patnaik government, the governor should call a session and seek a trust vote on the floor of the assembly. ���Any other move would be undemocratic,��� he said.

The CPM and CPI, with one seat each in the state, have decided to extend support to the BJD government in the state. A report from Bhubaneswar said the governor has asked Mr Patnaik to prove the majority for his government in the assembly on March 11.

Trying to drive home the point about the cordiality between the Left and the BJD, Mr Karat said the CPM had never demanded the dismissal of the Patnaik government over the Kandhamal violence. Mr Karat said the CPM had told Mr Patnaik that it was untenable for him to continue with the BJP. He also recalled BJD founder Biju Patnaik���s relations with the VP Singh government and the party���s ���secular��� credentials.

Asked if a Third Front would be formed along with the BJD for the state assembly elections, Mr Karat said discussions were taking place and the party���s state committee would meet on March 14.

The CPM, whose central committee was to finalise the list of candidates, held back the list of names for Orissa as news of the development in the state reached the party. The CPM, which holds the Sundergarh assembly seat, is likely to ask for the Balasore Lok Sabha seat, where it has a strong base in the state.