A fluid force

And why not? After all, the Third Front has proved the futility of all attempts to write its obituary. It raises its head in the run-up to every election, and so what if it is only to die another day. All those who expect coherence and purpose from it do not realise that its inchoateness is also the Front8217;s greatest strength. It was always meant to be the unbounded, fluid space that accommodates many and speaks many languages. It was meant to abound in leaders, all of them wanting to be prime minister. So why not a grand revival now? Why mustn8217;t the Congress and BJP be seriously advised to take note?

After all these years, do we really need to spell out the reasons why? Okay, there8217;s the fact of the BJP having already stolen much of the Front8217;s thunder, sorry constituents. From parts and particles of the former Janata Dal to Chandrababu Naidu8217;s TDP 8212; the erstwhile untouchable party has weaned away most of what went by the name of the Third Force. Now, with the Congress announcing its readiness to plunge into the alliance game, it may attract a few small parties as well. Then, there8217;s the matter of leadership. Surely, there has to be a more attractive face for the Third Force. Something more energetic than the getting back together again of a tired set of men who have been comprehensively overtaken by new political realities. Surely, there must be a more promising mascot than Gowda, whose name was pulled out, like a rabbit from a hat, for primeministership and who has resolutely refused to grow in stature since. All said, the Third Front remains an idea whose time may never come.

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