Party spokesman K L Sharma said: ``There is no such proposal. It's all in the air.'' A party general secretary said: ``Socialists have a reputation for bickering sooner than they unite.''

Smaller parties, chafing at the Big Brotherly attitude of the BJP, however welcome the idea hoping, as a BJD leader said today, that the proposed front will ``enhance bargaining power.''

George had floated the idea at his party's national executive meeting yesterday. But leaders like Shakuni Chaudhury said that a common manifesto would undermine the party's identity.

Incidentally, the BJP had announced that all allies would accept a National Agenda for Governance as the common manifesto but no ally has reacted so far. BJP leaders, too, deflated the trial balloon. ``Smaller parties have their independent presence and power in a coalition. But if they merge into a front,they would lose both their identity and power'' said general secretary Narendra Modi.

A section of the Samata claims that Fernandes's plan may work if there's a fractured verdict again. ``The front led by George or some other senior Socialist leader, could then stake claim to form Government with BJP's help,'' a Samata leader said.

This could be the reason for the BJP to outrightly reject George's proposal citing several impediments in its becoming a reality. ``Will veterans like Chandra Shekhar accept George's leadership?'' asked a BJP general secretary. ``Will socialists like Mulayam Singh Yadav be amenable to have relations with the BJP?'' asked another.

But the Lok Shakti welcomed the proposal. ``It's in the right direction. Certainly, we will take it in the positive manner,'' party spokesman M Raghupathy said. The Janata Dal, another party singled out by the Samata yesterday was sceptical. ``My appeal to Fernandes is to first get rid of the BJP and then really try for a third force of socialists,''party secretary general Bapu Kaldate said. ``Instead of scouting around on behalf of the BJP, Fernandes should initiate the move for unity among socialist forces, which is the need of the hour,'' he said.