BJD mum on Third Front speculation

BHUBANESWAR: A day after 17 political parties joined hands in Delhi to fight communalism, all eyes are on the Naveen Patnaik-led BJD's efforts to cobble a non-Congress, non-BJP coalition.
Naveen, who has been advocating the need for a federal front, deputed two of its party MPs, Baisnab Charan Parida and Baijayant Panda to attend the Delhi meet. Ruling party sources said Naveen is looking at a post-election possibility of the Third Front coming to power or at least be in a position to dictate terms to the single-largest party.
Parida was mum about formation of the Third Front. "Since the meeting was on secular agenda we participated. We have been maintaining equal distance from both the Congress and the BJP since 2009 polls," he said.
Left leaders, however, expressed optimism that in 2014 a non-Congress, non-BJP and secular political alliance will form the government at the Centre. CPI state secretary Dibakar Nayak said, "It is a positive sign and hopefully in 2014, a new alliance other than UPA and NDA will come to power.." CPM state secretary Janardan Pati said, "It is time to form a third viable alliance comprising regional, socialist and secular parties before 2014 polls." Samajwadi Party state president Rabi Behera said his party would have a pact with the Left in Odisha.