Talk has begun on new political front: Nitish

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar Friday said talks were on "among like-minded parties" on forming a new front ahead of the Lok Sabha election.

"Talks have begun among like-minded political parties for a new front on the basis of understanding and cooperation to take on the Congress and the BJP in elections," Nitish Kumar told the media here.

But Nitish Kumar ruled out a third or fourth front this time. "We are trying to build a strong bloc in parliament."

Nitish Kumar said his Janata Dal-United along with the Left parties including the Communist Party of India-Marxist had been working on forming a new political formation.

He did not disclose the name of the "like-minded parties".

"I can say this much that there will be an attempt to unite the old Janata Parivar who are strong in their respective states."

He clarified that there would be no merger of these parties.

A senior JD-U leader told IANS that party president Sharad Yadav was in touch with the Samajwadi Party, the Biju Janata Dal and the Janata Dal-Secular in Karnataka.

The JD-U leader said Chief Ministers Mamata Banerjee of West Bengal and J. Jayalalithaa of Tamil Nadu would also be urged to join the new formation.