‘Third fronts failed without Congress’

Third Front governments have failed in the past because the Congress was never a part of them, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav has said, adding there would be nothing wrong in Congress president Rahul Gandhi claiming the Prime Minister’s post if his party emerged as the single largest in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

Yadav, who is emerging as a key Opposition leader as his father Lalu Prasad battles deteriorating health and a string of court cases, said the smaller opposition parties needed to strengthen the Congress, which was in direct contests with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in 18 states.

“I agree (Third Fronts have failed). But remember in those alliances, the Congress was not present. When the Congress came in the alliance, it gave us UPA 1 and UPA 2. The UPA (United Progressive Alliance) ran for a full 10 years. The Congress is the biggest Opposition party. It is the responsibility of the Congress to take others along. Now, for the sake of the country, we have to discard our egos. Wherever the Congress is powerful, we have to strengthen it,” Yadav said in an interview with Hindustan Times.

Opposition parties are banding together against the BJP for next year’s general elections, motivated by recent wins in bypolls across

states.

NEW DELHI: