The 2nd and 3rd Front Game

The 2nd and 3rd Front Game​

By: Amit Bhushan Date: 5th Mar. 2018

With ‘Game’ politics taking over and the issues coming to yore, the political maturity of the Netas is likely to show up with ease. When the ‘issue agenda’ is almost fixed, it is the responsiveness of the government in power is being questioned and mis-appropriations of funds, corruption etc. are to be brought out by the ‘real’ opposition. The same also questions a digression of the government Netas from ‘issue agenda’ to something more mundane. However we have an interesting turn of events with some of the Netas and parties trying to foster a 3rd front. This is even as we still do not have the right address for the 2nd front itself, who are going to be lead coordinators or central and regional mascots etc. The Netas understand public’s love and yearning for idol worship, so much so that instead of an issue agenda, the entire focus is on agglomeration of faces & names who are presumed to be big. The media & the litany of its denizens too have learnt to be spell-bound towards such an agglomeration and steadfastly refuse to heed to ‘Game’ in this regards. This is even when they have had to repeatedly bow down to the verdict of the ‘Game’ and even give up support to survey industry, but nonetheless years of inculcated habit in the commercial news media won’t die out easy.

If the media raises questions from an issue agenda perspective, the political maturity or the survival instincts of the local Netas of UP might surprise while that of the ‘rulers’ of some of large or a bit smaller state, may be inexplicable. Basically the Netas are yet to realize that ‘if the one I don’t want to be seen with’ is going to be a political rival in the electoral battle-field or some hoi polloi. Its impact has to be fathomed in advance or else snowballing is likely to continue. An understanding of the same is not with any of the Netas who are all glued to self-aggrandizement even as though they all claim promoting ‘young talent’ in their respective parties. Reference here may be towards some forgotten young turk, fallen out of favour to some rising star in some party and its past record in the media but not taken note off. Had this understanding been there, the electoral results in a Western state might have been a bit different, but for the Netas’ reluctance and recalcitrant behavior to ‘change’. Somehow the commercial news media would not spell out such missed opportunities or support such introspection, and thus weakening of the ‘Game’. That the electoral results are an overall reflection of the political maturity as well as readiness to reach out to voters by walking that extra mile repeatedly shows up, but we refuse to take note and the commercial news media may be at forefront of this all. If the mistakes are not acknowledged, understood and corrected then errors would keep showing up and the Netas continue to blame the ‘Game’ for their own follies.

The focus is on leadership rather than ‘plan that could be pursued to deliver upon issue agenda’ and the government’s failure. This continues to cloud leadership, leads to a drift in terms of issues being raised by lower rung of netas and continuous calls for different political fronts. Also the Netas have steadfastly refused to yield to public demand for sharing their own track-record on these issue agendas even as they continue to hold key position in different layers of government. In part, the 3rd front depicts a weakness to share up this track record by having to have some different issue agenda and this is again likely to have its political impact. The ideological clarity in some parties and respective Netadom on their issue agenda, must also match their ground strength to mobilize workers and supporters actively behind such issue agenda. This would test the ability of Netas to network with political workers and also to reach-out to masses to build/depict credibility in pursuance of these issues. Selection of support group of Netas while constituting a joint front, should be keeping this strength in mind alongside activity levels of the Netas within their respective work-zones around such issues. This would also include delivering upon these issues and agendas where some of these Netas are holding on to some government positions. This is likely to continue to shape politics of the Netas, parties and fronts for some time to come. Let the ‘Game’ evolve…..

 

[Swaswati Borpuzari]

The concept of the 2nd and 3rd Front Game is an intriguing and strategic approach often utilized in both military and business contexts to outmaneuver opponents or competitors. In its most basic form, the 2nd Front Game involves opening an additional front or area of competition to divert the attention and resources of an adversary, thereby creating vulnerabilities in their primary defense or market presence. This tactic aims to force the opponent to split their efforts, weakening their overall position. The 3rd Front Game builds on this strategy by introducing even more complexity and unpredictability. It involves creating a third, often unexpected, area of engagement that can further distract the adversary and provide new opportunities for the strategist. This could mean entering a new market, forming unexpected alliances, or leveraging innovative technologies to create a new competitive landscape. By employing these multi-front strategies, organizations can gain a significant advantage, as they not only challenge their competitors on multiple fronts but also demonstrate adaptability and foresight, key attributes in dynamic and competitive environments. The success of these strategies often hinges on the ability to execute quickly, maintain secrecy, and effectively manage resources across various fronts.

 

[Simran Rai]

The evolving political scenario, as described in this insightful article, provides a striking commentary on the recurring pattern of personality-centric alliances in Indian politics. The conceptual reference to the “2nd and 3rd Front Game” highlights not only the fractured opposition space but also the misplaced emphasis on individual charisma over grounded issue-based planning.


When electoral discourse moves away from performance metrics to superficial idol-worship, a vacuum emerges in public reasoning. The relentless pursuit of building fronts without foundational ideological clarity or consistency dilutes the very essence of a healthy democracy. Rather than focusing on delivering measurable progress, political discourse becomes absorbed with poster faces and symbolic shows of strength.


The emergence of multiple fronts—without even clearly defining the second—shows a lack of coherence in opposition strategies. The inability to project a unified and credible vision for addressing pressing national concerns, such as employment, agrarian distress, education, healthcare, and institutional reform, reduces these efforts to mere exercises in arithmetic. Voter consciousness, increasingly shaped by issue-based narratives, is far more evolved than many in political circles acknowledge.


Political maturity lies not in arithmetic coalitions, but in the articulation of a collective roadmap addressing ground realities. The article rightly identifies a dangerous drift: the disconnect between party leadership’s public image construction and real, demonstrable groundwork on core agendas. In the absence of transparency about performance in governance—especially where opposition figures currently hold power—the legitimacy of any new front will remain questionable. Formation of alternative political structures must not become a mechanism to evade accountability or avoid introspection.


The critique of the media’s repetitive focus on personalities rather than pressing issues resonates strongly. Years of habit—driven by commercial interests—continue to push coverage towards spectacles rather than substance. Despite being forced to acknowledge the accuracy of political outcomes predicted by the “Game,” the media ecosystem remains sluggish in altering its editorial priorities. The reluctance to amplify internal party challenges or missed reform opportunities further erodes the watchdog role traditionally expected from mainstream journalism.


Missed chances in key regional contests—owing to inflexible party behaviors, poor coalition-building instincts, or resistance to internal change—point toward a larger failure to read public sentiment. Electoral outcomes serve as a direct indicator of that failure. Continued denial only results in deeper disillusionment among political workers and the electorate.


To be effective, any future political alignment must reflect authenticity, a firm grasp over grassroots realities, and a willingness to evolve structurally. Leadership selection alone cannot substitute for commitment to ground-level work, issue-driven engagement, and consistent visibility. Selection of support Netas and affiliated political elements must be made with a realistic appraisal of their mobilizing capacity and their record on delivering results on issue agendas.


The politics of fronts, especially in a multiparty democracy like India, can serve a meaningful purpose only when built upon shared convictions and a common minimum program anchored in public welfare. Tactical alliances without ideological and administrative coherence tend to collapse under the weight of ambition and mistrust.


For genuine transformation, political players must move beyond mere agglomeration and towards alignment—of vision, commitment, and purpose. The next phase of the ‘Game’ will belong not to those who shout the loudest or wave the brightest banners, but to those who present and persist with credible, issue-driven alternatives.​