Third Front (India) - Revision history

Smartkabadi: improved article

2025-05-28T13:38:37Z

improved article

UpdateBot: robot: Update article (please report if you notice any mistake or error in this edit)

2022-05-29T20:29:21Z

robot: Update article (please report if you notice any mistake or error in this edit)

103.219.228.12: /* National Front (1989–1991) */

2021-12-28T13:08:13Z

National Front (1989–1991)

New page

{{Short description|Political alliances challenging India's two dominant parties}}
{{More citations needed|date=November 2016}}
{{EngvarB|date=November 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}}
'''Third Front '''in Indian politics refers to various alliances formed by smaller parties at various points of time since 1989 to offer a third option to Indian voters, challenging the [[Indian National Congress]] and [[Bharatiya Janata Party]].

==National Front (1989–1991)==
National Front (NF) was a coalition of political parties, led by the [[Janata Dal]], which formed [[India]]'s government between 1989 and 1990 under the leadership of [[N. T. Rama Rao]], popularly known as NTR, as President of national front and [[V. P. Singh]] as Convener. The coalition's prime minister was V. P. Singh later succeeded by [[Chandra Shekhar]]. The parties in the Front were: Janata Dal at national level, [[Telugu Desam Party]] of [[Andhra Pradesh]], [[Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]] of [[Tamil Nadu]], and [[Asom Gana Parishad]] of [[Assam]] and [[Indian Congress (Socialist)]]. They were supported from outside by the [[Left Front (India)|Left Front]]{{dn|date=September 2021}}. The [[Leader of the Opposition (India)|Leader of the Opposition]], [[P. Upendra]] was a General Secretary of the Front at its formation.

In 1991, [[Jharkhand Mukti Morcha]] became a part of the Front. TDP split in 1995, with a minority faction siding with N. T. Rama Rao and the majority faction choosing to side with [[Chandrababu Naidu]]. The Front collapsed before the Lok Sabha elections of 1996, when NF tried to rope in both DMK and AIADMK, resulting in the DMK walking out. After NTR died of a heart attack in January 1996, Janata Dal stood by [[NTR Telugu Desam Party (Lakshmi Parvathi)|Rama Rao's widow Lakshmi Parvathi]] while Left parties formed an alliance with Chandrababu Naidu.

==United Front (1996–1998)==
{{main|United Front (India)}}
After the 1996 elections, Janata Dal, [[Samajwadi Party]], [[Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]], [[Telugu Desam Party]], [[Asom Gana Parishad]], [[All India Indira Congress (Tiwari)]], [[Left Front (India)|Left Front]]{{dn|date=September 2021}} (4 parties), [[Tamil Maanila Congress]], [[Jammu & Kashmir National Conference|National Conference]], and [[Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party]] formed a 13 party United Front (UF). The coalition formed two governments in India between 1996 and 1998. The [[Prime Minister of India|Prime Minister]] was first from [[Janata Dal]] - [[H. D. Deve Gowda]], then later succeeded by [[I. K. Gujral]], after [[Jyoti Basu]], [[V. P. Singh]] declined to become the Prime Minister. Both governments were supported from outside by the [[Indian National Congress]] under [[Sitaram Kesri]].<ref name="Ahuja1998">{{cite book|author=M. L. Ahuja|title=Electoral politics and general elections in India, 1952-1998|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CFCjniBF9s8C&pg=PA9|access-date=10 December 2010|year=1998|publisher=Mittal Publications|isbn=978-81-7099-711-5|pages=9–}}</ref> [[N. Chandrababu Naidu]] of the [[Telugu Desam Party]] served as the convener of United Front.

The Indian general election in 1996 returned a fractured verdict. With the [[Bharatiya Janata Party|Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)]] emerging as the largest party, with 161 of 543 seats, it was invited first to form a government. It accepted the offer, and [[Atal Bihari Vajpayee]] was sworn in as prime minister. However, he was unable to muster a majority on the floor of the house, and the government fell 13 days later. At a meeting of all the other parties, the Indian National Congress, with a substantial 140 seats, declined to head the government and along with the [[Communist Party of India (Marxist)]], agreed to extend outside support to a coalition with the [[Janata Dal]] at its head, named the "United Front". Other members of the front included the [[Samajwadi Party]], [[Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]], [[Asom Gana Parishad]], [[Tamil Maanila Congress]], [[Communist Party of India]] and [[Telugu Desam Party]].

With the approval of the Congress and CPI(M), the sitting Chief Minister of [[Karnataka]], H. D. Deve Gowda, was asked to head the coalition as Prime Minister after [[V. P. Singh]], [[Jyoti Basu]], [[Lalu Prasad Yadav]], [[Mulayam Singh Yadav]], [[G. K. Moopanar]] and [[M. Karunanidhi]] declined. His term was from 1 June 1996 – 21 April 1997. The Congress revoked its support to [[Deve Gowda|Deva Gowda]] amidst discontent over communication between the coalition and the Congress. It compromised to support a new government under [[I. K. Gujral]], who was Prime Minister from 21 April 1997 – 19 March 1998. Following the collapse of his government, [[1998 Indian general election|fresh elections]] were called, and the United Front lost power.

== Federal Front (2019) ==
{{Main|Federal Front}}
In March 2018, [[Chief Minister of West Bengal]] [[Mamata Banerjee]] and [[Chief Minister of Telangana]] [[K. Chandrashekhar Rao]] called for a coalition urging all regional parties to form a "[[Federal Front]]" for the [[2019 Indian general election]]. While Rao indicated a non-BJP non-Congress coalition, Banerjee avoided a direct answer.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/mamata-kcr-meet-kicks-off-federal-front-process/article23295989.ece |title=Mamata, KCR move to form federal front|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|author=Shiv Sahay Singh|date=19 March 2018 |location=[[Kolkata]]|access-date=8 April 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/dmk-backs-mamatas-federal-front-idea/article23673630.ece |title=DMK backs Mamata's federal front idea |date=25 April 2018 |work=[[The Hindu]] |author=Sobhana K. Nair |access-date=26 December 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Sea of humanity at United India Rally |url=http://aitcofficial.org/aitc/sea-of-humanity-at-united-india-rally/ |website=AITC Official |access-date=15 March 2019}}</ref>

On 19 January 2019, opposition leaders from across the country, including former Prime Minister [[H. D. Deve Gowda|H.D. Deve Gowda]], Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister [[Chandrababu Naidu]], Karnataka Chief Minister [[H.D.Kumaraswamy]], Delhi Chief Minister [[Arvind Kejriwal]] as well as Samajwadi Party leader [[Akhilesh Yadav]], Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam leader [[M. K. Stalin]], Bahujan Samaj Party Secretary-General [[Satish Chandra Mishra]], Jammu and Kashmir National Conference leader [[Farooq Abdullah]], Nationalist Congress Party leader [[Sharad Pawar]], Rashtriya Janata Dal leader [[Tejashwi Yadav]], Rashtriya Lok Dal leader [[Ajit Singh (politician)|Ajit Singh]], Jharkhand Mukti Morcha leader [[Hemant Soren]], Loktantrik Janata Dal leader [[Sharad Yadav]], All India United Democratic Front leader [[Badruddin Ajmal]], former Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh [[Gegong Apang]], former Union Ministers [[Arun Shourie]] and [[Yashwant Sinha]] and [[BJP]] rebel MP [[Shatrughan Sinha]] assembled in Kolkata for the United India rally organised by [[West Bengal]] Chief Minister [[Mamata Banerjee]], in the first major show of strength of the newly-minted [[Mahagathbandhan (2019)|Mahagathbandhan]] alliance for the [[2019 Indian general election]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/mamata-banerjees-united-india-rally-live-updates-top-leaders-reach-kolkata-1979762|title=United India Rally Highlights: Top Leaders Reach Kolkata|website=NDTV.com|access-date=15 March 2019 |date=19 January 2019}}</ref>

It was unclear whether the [[Indian National Congress|Indian National Congress (INC)]], currently India's largest opposition party, would be a part of this alliance, as INC President Rahul Gandhi did not appear at the United India rally. Instead, Gandhi sent the floor leader of the INC in the [[Lok Sabha]], [[Mallikarjun Kharge]], to attend the rally on his behalf.<ref>{{Cite news |author=ET Now |title=United India Rally: Rahul Gandhi sends Mamata Banerjee best wishes message|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/united-india-rally-rahul-gandhi-sends-mamata-banerjee-best-wishes-message/videoshow/67597002.cms|access-date=15 March 2019|date=19 January 2019 |work=[[The Economic Times]]}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Mahagathbandhan (disambiguation)|Mahagathbandhan]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Indian political parties}}

[[Category:Political terminology in India]]
[[Category:Political party alliances in India]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:59, 30 May 2022
Line 1:		Line 1:
	{{Short description\|Political alliances challenging India's two dominant parties}}		{{Short description\|Political alliances challenging India's two dominant parties}}
			{{Other uses\|Third Front (disambiguation){{!}}Third Front}}
	{{More citations needed\|date=November 2016}}		{{More citations needed\|date=November 2016}}
	{{EngvarB\|date=November 2019}}		{{EngvarB\|date=November 2019}}
	{{Use dmy dates\|date=November 2019}}		{{Use dmy dates\|date=November 2019}}
	'''Third Front '''in Indian politics refers to various alliances formed by smaller parties at various points of time since 1989 to offer a third option to Indian voters, challenging the [[Indian National Congress]] and [[Bharatiya Janata Party]].		'''Third Front '''in Indian politics refers to various alliances formed by smaller parties at various points of time since 1989 to offer a third option to Indian voters, challenging the [[Indian National Congress]] (INC) and [[Bharatiya Janata Party\|Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)]].

	==National Front (1989–1991)==		==National Front (1989–1991)==
	National Front (NF) was a coalition of political parties, led by the [[Janata Dal]], which formed [[India]]'s government between 1989 and 1990 ~~under the leadership of~~ [[N. T. Rama Rao]], popularly known as NTR, ~~as President~~ of national front and [[V. P. Singh]] ~~as Convener~~. The coalition's prime minister was V. P. Singh later succeeded by [[Chandra Shekhar]]. The parties in the Front were: Janata Dal at national level, [[Telugu Desam Party]] of [[Andhra Pradesh]], [[Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]] of [[Tamil Nadu]], and [[Asom Gana Parishad]] of [[Assam]] and [[Indian Congress (Socialist)]]. They were supported from outside by the [[Left Front ~~(India)~~\|Left Front]]~~{{dn\|date=September 2021}}~~. The [[Leader of the Opposition (India)\|Leader of the Opposition]], [[P. Upendra]] was a General Secretary of the Front at its formation.		National Front (NF) was a coalition of political parties led by the [[Janata Dal]] which formed [[India]]'s government between 1989 and 1990.w [[N. T. Rama Rao]], popularly known as NTR, was the president of national front and [[V. P. Singh]] was its convener. The coalition's prime minister was V. P. Singh, later succeeded by [[Chandra Shekhar]]. The parties in the Front were: Janata Dal at the national level, [[Telugu Desam Party]] of [[Andhra Pradesh]], [[Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]] of [[Tamil Nadu]], and [[Asom Gana Parishad]] of [[Assam]] and [[Indian Congress (Socialist)]]. They were supported from outside by the [[Left Democratic Front\|Left Front]]. The [[Leader of the Opposition (India)\|Leader of the Opposition]], [[P. Upendra]] was a General Secretary of the Front at its formation.

	In 1991, [[Jharkhand Mukti Morcha]] became a part of the Front. TDP split in 1995, with a minority faction siding with N. T. Rama Rao and the majority faction choosing to side with [[Chandrababu Naidu]]. The Front collapsed before the Lok Sabha elections of 1996, when NF tried to rope in both DMK and AIADMK, resulting in the DMK walking out. After NTR died of a heart attack in January 1996, Janata Dal stood by [[NTR Telugu Desam Party (Lakshmi Parvathi)\|Rama Rao's widow Lakshmi Parvathi]] while Left parties formed an alliance with Chandrababu Naidu.		In 1991, [[Jharkhand Mukti Morcha]] became a part of the Front. TDP split in 1995, with a minority faction siding with N. T. Rama Rao and the majority faction choosing to side with [[Chandrababu Naidu]]. The Front collapsed before the Lok Sabha elections of 1996, when NF tried to rope in both DMK and AIADMK, resulting in the DMK walking out. After NTR died of a heart attack in January 1996, Janata Dal stood by [[NTR Telugu Desam Party (Lakshmi Parvathi)\|Rama Rao's widow Lakshmi Parvathi]] while Left parties formed an alliance with Chandrababu Naidu.
Line 12:		Line 13:
	==United Front (1996–1998)==		==United Front (1996–1998)==
	{{main\|United Front (India)}}		{{main\|United Front (India)}}
	After the 1996 elections, Janata Dal, [[Samajwadi Party]], [[Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]], [[Telugu Desam Party]], [[Asom Gana Parishad]], [[All India Indira Congress (Tiwari)]], [[Left Front ~~(India)~~\|Left Front]]~~{{dn\|date=September 2021}}~~ (4 parties), [[Tamil Maanila Congress]], [[Jammu & Kashmir National Conference\|National Conference]], and [[Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party]] formed a 13 party United Front (UF). The coalition formed two governments in India between 1996 and 1998. The [[Prime Minister of India\|Prime Minister]] was first from [[Janata Dal]] - [[H. D. Deve Gowda]], then later succeeded by [[I. K. Gujral]], after [[Jyoti Basu]], [[V. P. Singh]] declined to become the Prime Minister. Both governments were supported from outside by the [[Indian National Congress]] under [[Sitaram Kesri]].<ref name="Ahuja1998">{{cite book\|author=M. L. Ahuja\|title=Electoral politics and general elections in India, 1952-1998\|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CFCjniBF9s8C&pg=PA9\|access-date=10 December 2010\|year=1998\|publisher=Mittal Publications\|isbn=978-81-7099-711-5\|pages=9–}}</ref> [[N. Chandrababu Naidu]] of the [[Telugu Desam Party]] served as the convener of United Front.		After the 1996 elections, Janata Dal, [[Samajwadi Party]], [[Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]], [[Telugu Desam Party]], [[Asom Gana Parishad]], [[All India Indira Congress (Tiwari)]], [[Left Democratic Front\|Left Front]] (4 parties), [[Tamil Maanila Congress]], [[Jammu & Kashmir National Conference\|National Conference]], and [[Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party]] formed a 13 party United Front (UF). The coalition formed two governments in India between 1996 and 1998. The [[Prime Minister of India\|Prime Minister]] was first from [[Janata Dal]] - [[H. D. Deve Gowda]], then later succeeded by [[I. K. Gujral]], after [[Jyoti Basu]], [[V. P. Singh]] declined to become the Prime Minister. Both governments were supported from outside by the [[Indian National Congress]] under [[Sitaram Kesri]].<ref name="Ahuja1998">{{cite book\|author=M. L. Ahuja\|title=Electoral politics and general elections in India, 1952-1998\|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CFCjniBF9s8C&pg=PA9\|access-date=10 December 2010\|year=1998\|publisher=Mittal Publications\|isbn=978-81-7099-711-5\|pages=9–}}</ref> [[N. Chandrababu Naidu]] of the [[Telugu Desam Party]] served as the convener of United Front.

	The Indian general election in 1996 returned a fractured verdict. With the [[Bharatiya Janata Party\|Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)]] emerging as the largest party, with 161 of 543 seats, it was invited first to form a government. It accepted the offer, and [[Atal Bihari Vajpayee]] was sworn in as prime minister. However, he was unable to muster a majority on the floor of the house, and the government fell 13 days later. At a meeting of all the other parties, the Indian National Congress, with a substantial 140 seats, declined to head the government and along with the [[Communist Party of India (Marxist)]], agreed to extend outside support to a coalition with the [[Janata Dal]] at its head, named the "United Front". Other members of the front included the [[Samajwadi Party]], [[Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]], [[Asom Gana Parishad]], [[Tamil Maanila Congress]], [[Communist Party of India]] and [[Telugu Desam Party]].		The Indian general election in 1996 returned a fractured verdict. With the [[Bharatiya Janata Party\|Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)]] emerging as the largest party, with 161 of 543 seats, it was invited first to form a government. It accepted the offer, and [[Atal Bihari Vajpayee]] was sworn in as prime minister. However, he was unable to muster a majority on the floor of the house, and the government fell 13 days later. At a meeting of all the other parties, the Indian National Congress, with a substantial 140 seats, declined to head the government and along with the [[Communist Party of India (Marxist)]], agreed to extend outside support to a coalition with the [[Janata Dal]] at its head, named the "United Front". Other members of the front included the [[Samajwadi Party]], [[Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]], [[Asom Gana Parishad]], [[Tamil Maanila Congress]], [[Communist Party of India]] and [[Telugu Desam Party]].