Waiting and flirting

Aware that the cracks in the Third Front would cement its alliance,the Congress sent out feelers to AIADMK’s J Jayalalithaa and BJD’s Naveen Patnaik while AICC general secretary Digvijay Singh spoke to SP’s Amar Singh who was upset that Gandhi had not got in touch with his party.

To ensure the Fourth Front with RJD and LJP remains relevant,Mulayam Singh Yadav and Amar Singh called on Paswan and spoke to Lalu. Amar Singh said he was trying to get in touch with Pawar and Chiranjeevi,too. SP leaders were nervous the Congress could reach out to BSP’s Mayawati. “Mulayam Singh,Paswan and Lalu Prasad will meet on May 17 to work out a joint strategy,” said Amar Singh.

Pawar,whose partymen are again pushing his claims for prime ministership,drove to Sonia Gandhi’s residence last night and held talks for over 30 minutes. Gandhi also called up Lalu Prasad and Paswan who,according to exit polls,are headed for a rout in Bihar.

The RJD and LJP had parted ways with the Congress to contest separately in Bihar but Gandhi kept herself out of the war of words. Lalu and Paswan were also upset with Rahul Gandhi for praising their rival and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

The Congress opened a line with Naveen Patnaik and his advisor Pyari Mohan Mohapatra,BJD Rajya Sabha MP. Former Congress CM J B Patnaik was said to have spoken to Mohapatra while Kamal Nath held informal talks with Patnaik,his old mate from Doon School.

The Congress also reached out to Jayalalithaa with Digvijay Singh declaring that the AIADMK “is not a communal party”. Asked about possible tie-ups,he said: “Only BJP and Shiv Sena are communal. We won’t have anything to do with these parties who spread hate and communalism… AIADMK is not a communal party.”