'Fourth front' takes off from Mulayam land

Three regional satraps raised their first polls battle cry yesterday when Mulayam Singh Yadav of the Samajwadi Party, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) president Lalu Prasad and Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) chief Ram Vilas Paswan declared that their alliance was here to stay.
"We are one and will continue to remain one," was the keyword at the joint rally of what is being called the "fourth front" and which drew fabulous, excited crowds that seemed to believe every word of what the three leaders were busy impressing upon them.However, each sought to reaffirm their faith in the return of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) to power after the April-May elections. The rally came barely a week after they announced their decision to contest the Lok Sabha polls together.
"Nothing can separate us now," declared Mulayam Singh. Lalu Prasad said, "We will also contest the state assembly elections together." Paswan said, "The united strength of the three states represented by us - Bihar, Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh - will determine who will occupy the prime minister's chair."
The three leaders got together at Mulayam Singh's home village Saefai in Etawah district which he has almost transformed into a modern urban oasis in an otherwise backward belt.