Bihar bypoll results revive anti-BJP front efforts

The results of Bihar bypoll seem to have revived the efforts at forming an anti-BJP front at the national level but the idea is yet to gain a fertile ground in the states, a crucial step needed for such a move.

The CPM’s rejection of Mamata Banerjee’s offer to join hands is not an isolated case. It only indicates the complex equations which forbid alliances at regional level. 
However, efforts are on to consolidate anti-saffron forces at national level and JD(U), along with the Left parties, are taking lead in this endeavour.

If Left parties are consolidating their forces, efforts to reunite Janata Parivar are on. Both the forces have postponed, at least for now, their fight against the Congress. The Bihar experiment shows that the Congress is also not averse to become a partner.

After the humiliating drubbing of the Left in their bastion in West Bengal, they were virtually shattered and its leaders seemed to have analysed their situations. During Bihar bypoll, they joined hands and, significantly, the senior parties—CPI and CPM—allowed CPI(ML)-Liberation to play a major role.  Though the alliance could not win any seat, the Left is happy with the success of RJD-JD(U)-Congress combine and poor performance of the BJP.

Meanwhile, CPI leader D Raja dismissed the speculations of possible tie up with the TMC while talking to Deccan Herald. The CPM, too, rejected it. All the leaders, including Sitaram Yechury, held the TMC responsible for the emergence of BJP.

Similar strong rejection came from another Left Front ally. “Is it a joke?” Reacted RSP leader Abani Roy. “The way she has been treating the Left parties is well known. How can we think of joining her? She should be scared with the emergence of BJP. We will fight the saffron party on our own,” he said.

After the success in Bihar, JD(U) leaders, including party chief Sharad Yadav and General Secretary K C Tyagi, have initiated an effort to revive Janata Parivar.
Sources said they are also in talks with Uttar Pradesh leaders to devise a strategy to arrest anti-BJP vote during the coming bypolls. However, in Uttar Pradesh, seems impossible to make Mayawati agree to support Mulayam Singh.