“The federal front is not likely to be materialised before the Lok Sabha elections. The scene will become clear only after the election is held either in 2013 or in 2014. There is a strong possibility of a non-Congress and non BJP government at the Centre because the Congress will not cross the double digit mark in the election and BJP is also not in a position to come close to forming the government. The non-BJP, non-Congress parties will come together after the election. Before election, there will be movement against both the Congress and BJP by the regional parties,” SP Rajya Sabha member and party general secretary Kiranmoy Nanda told The Indian Express.

Even though Trinamool leaders made it clear that the proposed front will not have CPM as a constituent, Nanda chose to remain non-committal on whether there is any possibility of having the Left parties in the proposed alliance. “I cannot comment on this. This will be decided later. But what all I can say is that the Congress and the BJP are not in a position to perform well in the next Lok Sabha poll and the regional parties together hold the key in forming the next government at the Centre.”

Asked whether SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav will attend Mamata’s anti-FDI rally in Lucknow on November 17, Nanda said: “We support such rallies, but it is premature to say anything on SP’s role during the event. We will discuss it in the party. But we have been opposing FDI for the past three years like Trinamool Congress. There are several issues on which the view of the SP matches with that of the Trinamool,” Nanda said.

Meanwhile, the Janata Dal-United has also maintained suspense on whether it would be a party to the front of Mamata Banerjee because “there are several ifs and buts” pertaining to the issue.

With JD-U leader Sharad Yadav sharing the dais with Mamata at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar rally, speculations are rife that the Trinamool chief is willing to have both the SP and JD-U in the proposed alliance. JD-U, which is currently with the BJP-led NDA, has, however, neither confirmed nor denied whether it will join Mamata’s proposed front.

“The issue is regarding FDI and our party is against it. Mamata Banerjee is fighting against the FDI and we are supporting her. We are committed to fight against the FDI. Whoever fight against the FDI we will support them. Even when Left parties opposed FDI we attended their programme,” said JD-U vice-president Mallanagouda Nadgoud. On whether JD-U will join Mamata’s proposed front, Nadgaoda replied: “Government formation and election are different process. So many ifs and buts are there. So we cannot answer all the questions. But in politics there cannot be no hard and fast rule. Basically we are against Congress and we are secular. We have internal democracy in the party. There will be discussion,” he added.

Economist PM right person to speak on FDI: Governor

Jalpaiguri: Governor M K Narayanan on Wednesday said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is the right person to speak on the issue of FDI in retail as he is an economist. “The Prime Minister is looking after it (FDI in retail). He is the right person to speak on the issue. He is an economist,” Narayanan told reporters after reaching New Jalpaiguri station on his way to Darjeeling. To another question, he said Trinamool government was doing well in tackling the Maoist problem in the state. The Governor will be holidaying in Darjeeling for a week.

Trinamool not inclining to NDA, but Cong is: Mukul

Kolkata: The Trinamool Congress rubbished Congress party’s allegation that the party was tilting towards NDA and said on the contrary Congress was trying to manage BJP for “floor arrangement” to pass some of the Bills in next session of Parliament.