The rise, fall and rise of the Third Front in India

The Janata Party was a launch-pad of alternative politics in India after 30 years of Congress domination. It was the first party that a non-Congress government was at the Centre.

In 1975, veteran socialist Jayprakash Narain had called for an anti-Indira Gandhi movement, when Opposition leaders gave shape to the Janata Party during the Emergency. Morarji Desai was chosen as the leader of the alliance in 1977.

But in the subsequent 1980 election, the Congress returned to power.

Janata Party’s second experiment was spearheaded by VP Singh