The third, secular front that just isn’t

On paper, leaders of a dozen-odd political parties converging on the Capital for an issue-based gathering could seem as a move towards a political alliance. Yet, the reality is that the Left-sponsored anti-communal convention falls short of even being a symbolic act.

Optimistically, hinging on hopes of regional parties doing exceptionally well in the Lok Sabha polls, this convention is more of an expression of possible mutual future interest. More realistically, it is just an attempt by the Left, battling a rapid decrease in relevance and importance, to give the impression of still having some friends and even being the shaper of a potential Third Front — all of which seems a rather grandiose plot.

It is quite difficult to imagine a scenario where the oft-imagined spectre of a Third Front can acquire tangible physical shape.

Even most of the leaders attending the convention clarified this wasn’t some precursor to the realisation of the (Left’s) Third Front dream. And the likeliest scenario is that many of the parties attending the convention will have to align with one of the two main parties, BJP and Congress, post the elections. Given the clash of personalities and political interests within the parties represented at the convention, it is tough to envisage this as a political group bonding together cohesively on the secular plank. Most regional parties are driven by ego, not ideology.

Despite rhetoric, for instance, the Samajwadi Party can just as well dump the Left, yet again; Nitish Kumar wants to keep doors to the Congress as well as the Left open; and what Jayalalithaa will do after the polls is an open question. All of them could also be questioned on the depth of their “secular credentials”. There may be a theoretical case for having a credible third force in national politics, but this isn’t even remotely it.