'UNPA'ralleled Comedy... and it continues

After closely following the 'Third Front' politics, I am left confused who is IN and who is OUT of UNPA. So, before going further into it, I must confess that I am not sure about parties which were then present or atleast present now in UNPA, and I presume that readers would understand my inability. United National Progressive Alliance, as the alliance christened by regional parties, is supposed to be an alliance which is equidistant from Congress led UPA and BJP led NDA. Ofcourse, as every regional party had their own ambitions and aspirations, and there was no common idea/ideology to bind them together, UNPA has been a 'waiting room' for almost every regional party whenever they needed one.

When UNPA was started, TDP (Telugu Desam Party), AIADMK (All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam) and SP (Samajwadi Party) have been the major parties advocating this idea of third front. Ofcourse, MDMK (Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam), AGP (Asom Gana Parishad) and INLD (Indian National Lok Dal) were its other partners. Mr.Naidu's aspirations to go 'National' have taken shape, though his party's situation in his state weren't all that pleasing for him. The UNPA with its about 60 MPs formed a 3rd biggest alliance in the Parliament following UPA and NDA.

The first step of UNPA at the national level was supporting Dr.APJ for a second term. This, ofcourse, was much to the liking of most of the Indian public, as the polls of various news dailies and channels have shown that Dr.Kalam is indeed the best and most popular president, the nation ever had. However, the way it was carried along, ended up embarrasing Kalamji, and we had Pratibha Patil taking charge instead.

Following that, perhaps first to come out was AIADMK+MDMK. Ms.Jayalalitha, who was the secretary of UNPA then, had resigned for her post, and pulled her party out of the alliance. Again, I am not sure of when small parties like Jharkhand Vikas Manch came, saw and went, or whether they are still with UNPA. So, counting those changes as infinitesimal, we shall not worry about them. Following that we have SP leaving UNPA to UPA to support the Nuclear deal. UNPA then approaches BSP (or viceversa; ofcourse it really doesn't matter though!), who joins the 'Front', and now Mr.Naidu truimphantly claims to bring first Dalit lady PM to India in the coming future and proposes the candidacy of Ms.Mayawati for the next general elections. The left parties which has come out of UPA and now supporting UNPA for an alliance, however seems not completely happy with this idea. Only Mr.Chandrababu Naidu knows why BSP is been approached only after SP has left, if he had the idea of bringing 'social justice'. However, the equation is logical because BSP has the capabilities of winning a huge chunk of seats in the next elections, as it is a regional party in UP, and since it is not in good terms with either Congress or BJP. The INLD and AGP hasve joined the NDA back (again as per the best of my knowledge). The JKNC (J&K National Conference) led by Abdullahs now teams up with UPA, from UNPA, after the Jammu and Kashmir state elections, as teaming up with Congress is essential to form a Government.

Coming to the parties which might be in UNPA, I can think of only TDP. There is a fair chance of JD(S) (Janata Dal (Secular)) being in UNPA for a while, though Mr.Deve Gowda is whimsical and his son, Mr.Kumaraswamy, has proved to be no less than his father. The Dravida Parties would polarise towards one of UPA or NDA; generally DMK towards the former and AIADMK+MDMK towards the latter. Situation is almost the same in Bihar, with RJD being the close ally of UPA and JD(U) (Janata Dal United) with the NDA. AITC (All India Trinamool Congress) which has been an ally of NDA, again, would be in uncertainity till the election results are out. After the Kashmir elections, one more probable for UNPA for the next 5 years, would probably be Mufti's PDP (People's Democratic Party), since they would be forced to come out of UPA. Similarly, JKNPP (J&K National Panther's Party), who would be in a similar situation as PDP might be yet another one.

With all this hodgepodge, I hope I haven't confused you. But, if you are, please understand that its the mistake of neither of us.