Raipur, Aug 26 (UNI) The Left has started its exercise for the formation of Third Front in Chhattisgarh in view of upcoming Chhattisgarh Assembly elections and Lok Sabha elections next year.

The possibility of formation of Third Front in the state appears strong to the Left given the presence of only two prominent parties.

CPI national executive member Chitranjan Bakshi told UNI here today that the party was making serious efforts for forming the Third Front and it would take concrete shape by next month.

A preliminary meeting had been held in this regard, while the next meeting would take place on September 7.

Efforts were being made to rope in the Gondwana Ganatantra Party, the Samajwadi Party, the Loktantrik Samajwadi Party, the Nationalist Congress Party, the Jai Chhattisgarh Party, the Rashtriya Janata Dal, the Lok Janshakti Party, the Chhattisgarh Mukti Morcha and the Chhattisgarh Vikas Party.

So far, the Chhattisgarh Mukti Morcha and the Chhattisgarh Vikas Party have given their consent for the Third Front.

All these parties have influence in different areas -- the Left in Bastar, the CMM in Durg and Kanker, the GGP in Sarguja and Bilaspur and the CVP in Satnami-dominated areas.

Mr Bakshi claimed that electoral prospects would be changed if the BSP joined the Third Front in state. State BJP President Dauram Ratnakar said he could not comment until the party high command gave direction.

The CPI leader pointed out that coming together of regional parties would ensure preventing division of votes and increasing unity besides providing another alternative to people to the BJP and the Congress.

He said a clear picture would come out by September 7 following which seat sharing formula would be made. The Third Front could field candidates from all 90 seats.

UNI AS-PS 1433