Q: With NDA and UPA, it appeared that India was moving towards a bi-polar polity. What is the relevance of the Third Front now?

Ans: Successive Governments at the Centre led by the so-called national parties have let down the people of India. The people of this country are disillusioned. Regional sentiments and aspirations have been neglected and states ruled by other parties have been discriminated against. In this scenario, the people are looking for a sincere pro-people, pro-poor, pro-farmer Government that believes in maintaining and strengthening our secular character, federal structure and constitutional norms and institutions. The Third Front will be an alternative to both the UPA and NDA which have failed to protect the interests of the people in the last 10 years. Due to their misrule, the country is in a crisis.

Q: Now that the election dates have been announced, do you see the possibility of a hung Parliament?

Ans: The political scenario today is such that no single party will get clear majority in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, so the need for the Third Front.

Q : Is the Third Front possible ?

Ans : The Third Front is a hundred per cent reality.

Q: What will be final shape of the proposed Third Front?

Ans: That I cannot say. At present, CPI (M), CPI, RSP, Forward Block, TDP, TRS and AIADMK are with us. There will be a regrouping of parties after elections to form the government at the Centre. Its final shape will be visible only after the parliamentary elections but the rough structure of the Third Front, as you know, has become clear already. There is no Laxman Rekha to it as of now.

Q: Will you be approaching other regional political parties such as the Haryana Janhit Party led by former Chief Minister Bhajan Lal?

Ans: Anybody who believes in secular ideology can join the Third Front. Presently, we are an alliance of eight parties. This is just the beginning and many may join before the elections. Some may join after the elections.

Q: There are speculations about a possible tie-up between Congress and JD (S) in Karnataka?

Ans: I am with the Left parties and there is no ambiguity on this. The JD (S) has taken a decision in principle to maintain equidistance with both the BJP and Congress, a policy that has been endorsed at the recent national executive in Delhi as well. We differ with the Congress on economic policies and cannot go to elections with that.

Q: Your son, former Chief Minister and state JD (S) President H D Kumaraswamy, is said to have met Congress President Sonia Gandhi recently and he is said to be in favour of a tie-up with the Congress at the state level to combat BJP?

Ans: I am his father. There will be no alliance, open or secret, with the Congress.

Q: So, there are no differences between you and your son?

Ans: He is the true son of Gowda. He will come back to me and take my advice. You have seen what has happened in the past. He kicked them (BJP) and came back to me.

Q: How many seats the Third Front will be able to win in parliamentary elections in present scenario?

Ans : I can not speculate but people want an alternative to the BJP and the Congress.

Q: Will you provide leadership in the formation of the Third Front?

Ans: After elections are over and if friends ask me for some help, I will have no problems.

Q: Will Ms. Mayawati be the prime ministerial candidate of the Front?

Ans: CPM leader Prakash Karat has met her several times and tried to convince her to join the Third Front. She has decided to fight alone. It does not mean that she will not support the Third Front after elections. Personally, I have no objection to her claim to the top job..

Q: If the Third Front is formed, will Ms Mayawati be its prime ministerial candidate or you?

Ans: I will stand by Mayawati if she becomes the leader of the Third Front. I have no reservations and I also do not dream of becoming the Prime Minister once again.

Q: Ms Jayalalithaa had recently asked Congress to dump DMK. But you have announced that she is part of the proposed Third Front?

Ans: AIADMK is very much part of the Third Front and there is not much to be read into her recent statement. There need not be any confusion or doubt about it. I have already held some rounds of discussions with Jayalalithaa over telephone and CPI General Secretary A. B. Bardhan also had a meeting with her. In all these meetings and discussions, her response was very positive.

Q: You have endorsed the leadership of Ms. Mayawati. Won’t this hamper the chances of Jayalalithaa joining the Front?

Ans: Ms. Jayalalitha’s main rival is the DMK. She has no problem with Ms. Mayawati.

Q: There was also speculation some time back that Ms Mayawati is secretly in touch with NDA. In this situation, do you think that she will be part of Third Front?

Ans: I am cent per cent confident that Ms. Mayawati will not go with the NDA post-poll as she was equally vociferous in opposing the misrule and economic policies of the BJP.

Q: Ms. Mayawati has announced that her party will contest in all 80 Lok Sabha seats in UP and has already announced candidates. She has also refused to share seats with the Ajit Singh-led RLD which has forced the Jat leader to join NDA?

Ans: The BSP has never believed in pre-poll alliance. We don’t want to put pressure on her. Why should we spoil the BSP’s chances? We don’t want to create unnecessary problems. We (Third Front) are not contesting in U.P. The Third Front will not make any unnecessary claim for seats in states where it has no presence.

Q: Likewise, you have also announced that JD(S) will contest all 28 seats in Karnataka. Won’t there be any seat sharing with other Third Front partners?

Ans: The seat sharing arrangement within the Third Front will depend on the base support of the parties in the respective states. In Karnataka too, though we have announced that we would contest all the 28 seats, there is always a chance to accommodate the Left Parties after holding talks with state leaders of those parties.

Q: Will Third Front leaders participate in the BSP rallies?
Ans: The Front leaders will participate if invited.

Q: What about seat sharing between the partners?

Ans: All activities, including advertisements, would be in the name of the Third Front. Seat sharing would be decided later.

Q: Who will form the next Government at the Centre?

Ans: Wait till the elections. The people of India will give their verdict.