Nitish Kumar to attend Left rally with Mulayam Singh; denies talk of 'Third Front'

Patna: Nitish Kumar has said he will attend a rally in Delhi on October 30, which is being seen as a gathering of parties likely to try and join forces as a 'third front' after the elections due by May.

But as he confirmed his presence in the Left Front rally, Nitish Kumar said any speculation about a 'third front' is premature.

On Monday, Nitish Kumar did not rule out a tie-up with the Congress, after his party colleague Shivanand Tiwari openly rooted for it. (read)

Mr Kumar said he would take a call after October, referring to a party meeting later this month.

He has been seen as warming up to the Congress even before his party ended its 17-year alliance with the BJP in June over the elevation of Narendra Modi, who later became the party's Prime Ministerial candidate for 2014.

But sources say a section of the JD-U is in favour of going it alone and playing a larger role in a possible third front grouping.  

Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav and Left leaders have already said they will attend the October 30 rally, which they said was a call to action against "communal forces".

Mulayam Singh had said on Monday that the next Prime Minister would be a third front candidate, as neither the Congress nor the BJP would win enough numbers to come to power. (read)