Besides the NCP, the re-born PDF comprises the Ramdas Athawale faction of the Republican Party of India, Samajwadi Party, Janata Dal (secular) and the Swatantra Bharat Party led by Shetkari Sanghtana leader Sharad Joshi. The Peasants & Workers Party (PWP) which was among the main constituents of the earlier PDF remains outside the new avataar. PWP leaders did not yield to any pressure to compromise on its election strategy or seats and, in fact, accused the NCP of being``high-handed'' in its approach towards forming the Front.

Expectedly, the re-born PDF is not completely free of internal wranglings and contradictions. The disputes over a handful of Assembly seats are yet to be resolved; more than one constituent of the PDF has either claimed the seat or has already nominated candidates without waiting for seat-sharing talks to be concluded. However, leaders of all constituent parties individually and collectively resolved to settle the disputes in a friendly manner in the larger interest of fighting the Sena-BJP combine.

In the existing arrangement for Lok Sabha seats, the NCP will fight 34 of the 48 seats, 10 have been divided among the four other parties (RPI-4, JD-2, SP-2 and SBP-2). Four seats -- Raigad, Chimur, Bhandara and Mumbai Northeast are yet to be allocated between the partners.

The 288 Assembly seats have been shared on a basis that makes the NCP happier than others. It will fight 206, a big chunk more than the 188 that was being quoted earlier -- and afew more expected its way. The division among the others: RPI gets 26, JD 21, SP 13 and SBP 5.

Significantly, the PDF has decided to meet the PWP half-way by declaring support to the latters' candidates in three Assembly constituencies -- Sangola (Solapur), Sangrul (Kolhapur) and Gangakhed (Parbhani). NCP state chief Chhagan Bhujbal said this was the best strategy under the circumstances. It means that none of the PDF constituents will field their candidates in these constituencies.

The leaders were emphatic that their partnership be called a `Front' and not an alliance since this word has been associated with the Sena-BJP combine. ``Our front will work to resolve the wrangling over the remaining seats until the last date of withdrawal. Our aim is to defeat the Sena-BJP and jointly come to power in Maharashtra,'' asserted Bhujbal. Athawale, in a typical expansive manner, claimed that the PDF will win 160 Assembly seats to form government and send at least 30 members to the Lok Sabha.

Some of thecamaraderie was genuine, some for the flashing cameras. To pull together as PDF, constituents have had to make compromises with their initial demands and plans; typically, the NCP made the least adjustments. Only if these and other internal tensions withstand their resolve to defeat the Sena-BJP alliance and provide an alternative government, the camaraderie has fighting chance to turn into a meaningful front.