View source for Grand Democratic Secular Front

{{short description|Indian political Alliance}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2017}}
{{EngvarB|date = June 2017}}
{{Infobox political party
| name = Grand Democratic Secular Front
| position = 
| foundation = 2020
| dissolved = 2021
| membership = '''[[Grand Democratic Secular Front#Current members|6 Parties]]'''
| country = India
| abbreviation = GDSF<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://m.hindustantimes.com/bihar-election/owaisi-forms-separate-anti-bjp-front-for-bihar-polls/story-8nAoU9uv4KAWT4bAPzTPvO_amp.html|title=Owaisi forms separate anti-BJP front for Bihar and later join a alliance of BSP-RlSP and declare Upendra Kushwaha as a CM Candidate for upcoming Bihaar Election polls|date=September 20, 2020|via=Hindustan Times}}</ref>
| colorcode = blue
| leader = [[Upendra Kushwaha]]
| ideology = [[Secularism]]<br>[[Socialism]]<br>[[Social Justice]]
| seats1_title = [[Bihar Legislative Assembly]] seats
| seats1 = {{Composition bar|5|243|hex=#00BFFF}}
}}
The '''Grand Democratic Secular Front''' ('''GDSF''') was a coalition of political parties in the Indian state of Bihar formed on 8 October 2020 after the merger of the constituents of the United Democratic Secular Alliance and a three party front. The coalition was formed in the wake of the [[2020 Bihar Legislative Assembly election]] and consisted of 6 parties.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Yet another election front formed in Bihar|url=https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/yet-another-election-front-formed-in-bihar|access-date=2020-10-09|website=Free Press Journal|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Asaduddin Owaisi, Upendra Kushwaha Form Front Of 6 Parties For Bihar Polls|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/asaduddin-owaisi-upendra-kushwaha-form-front-of-6-parties-for-bihar-polls-2307317|access-date=2020-10-09|website=NDTV.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2020/oct/09/grand-democratic-secular-front-fifth-alliance-emerges-in-poll-bound-bihar-2207881.html | title=Grand Democratic Secular Front: Fifth alliance emerges in poll-bound Bihar | publisher=New Indian Express | date=9 October 2020 | accessdate=21 October 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/elections/assembly-elections/bihar/bihar-elections-2020-six-party-front-likely-to-hurt-nda-and-grand-alliance/articleshow/78599834.cms | title=Bihar elections 2020: Six-party front likely to hurt NDA and Grand Alliance | publisher=[[The Economic Times]] | date=11 October 2020 | accessdate=21 October 2020}}</ref>

== History ==
[[File:Cropped image of Rashtriya Lok Samata Party Headquarter.jpg|thumb|The headquarter of [[Rashtriya Lok Samata Party]] at Patna. RLSP was the leading party of the Grand Democratic Secular Front, which contested the 2020 [[Bihar Legislative Assembly]] elections with [[Upendra Kushwaha]] as the [[Chief Minister]]ial candidate.]]
The [[All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen]] announced an alliance with [[Samajwadi Janata Dal Democratic]] ahead of the 2020 elections in Bihar. [[Rashtriya Lok Samta Party|RLSP]], [[Bahujan Samaj Party|BSP]] and PSP declared another alliance for upcoming Bihar election. However these two separate coalition of political parties merged and formed a brand new alliance named Grand Democratic Secular Front and declared [[Upendra Kushwaha]] as its Chief Ministerial candidate for Bihar.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/thesundaystandard/2020/sep/20/aimim-aligns-with-sjd-in-bihar-owaisi-wants-like-minded-parties-to-join-2199247.html|title=AIMIM BIHAR aligns with SJD in Bihar, Owaisi wants like-minded parties to join|date=September 20, 2020|via=Indian Express}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=कुशवाहा के साथ ओवैसी:ओवैसी से गठबंधन के बाद अजय प्रताप को भी रालोसपा में ले आये उपेंद्र कुशवाहा, जमुई सीट पर होगा रोमांचक मुकाबला|trans-title=Kushwaha with Owaisi: After aliance with Owaisi, Ajay Pratap has been brought to RLSP by Upendra Kushwaha, adventrous fight on Jamui constituency|url=https://www.bhaskar.com/local/bihar/news/after-the-alliance-with-owaisi-upendra-kushwaha-who-brought-ajay-pratap-in-rlsp-will-be-a-thrilling-contest-on-jamui-seat-127785734.html|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|accessdate=2020-10-07|website=Dainik Bhaskar}}</ref> According to its leaders, the alliance was forged to converge the [[Dalit]], [[Other Backward Class|OBC]]  &  [[Muslims|Muslim]] votes.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Khan|first=Fatima|date=2020-10-10|title=BSP, AIMIM, RLSP's new front in Bihar is eyeing Dalit-Muslim votes, could dent JD(U)|url=https://theprint.in/politics/bsp-aimim-rlsps-new-front-in-bihar-is-eyeing-dalit-muslim-votes-could-dent-jdu/520968/|access-date=2020-10-12|website=ThePrint|language=en-US}}</ref>

The bloc's ticket distribution plan gave due weightage to caste and communal representation in various constituencies. It was decided that the Rashtriya Lok Samta Party will contest on 104 out of 243 seats of the Bihar Assembly while Bahujan Samaj Party was to contest on 80 seats. The other members like AIMIM and Samajwadi Janata Dal were given 24 and 25 seats respectively while the minor players like Suhaldev Bhartiya Samaj Party and Janwadi Party Socialist were to contest 5-5 seats each.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/elections/bihar-elections-caste-factor-reflects-in-selection-of-rlsp-candidates-120101700232_1.html|title=Bihar elections: Caste factor reflects in selection of RLSP candidates|website=Business Standard|accessdate=2020-10-19}}</ref>

In the first phase of the election RLSP contested on 42 seats.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.abplive.com/states/bihar/rlsp-released-the-list-of-42-candidates-of-the-first-phase-see-here-who-got-the-ticket-from-where-ann-1592169|title=RLSP ने जारी की पहले चरण के 42 उम्मीदवारों की लिस्ट, यहां देखें- किसे मिला कहां से टिकट?|website=ABP News|accessdate=2020-10-19}}</ref> Relying upon its vote base which is [[Kushwaha]] caste, RLSP fielded 40% Kushwaha candidates in the elections . The Grand Democratic Secular Front of which RLSP was a constituent member relied primarily upon the votes of castes like Kushwahas, Ravidasis, and [[Muslim]]s . RLSP in the first phase of elections contested a total of 42 seats amongst which it gave ticket to 17 candidates of Kushwaha caste while its ally [[All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen|AIMIM]] placed its candidates in Muslim dominated areas of Bihar.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bhaskar.com/local/bihar/patna/news/rlsp-will-contest-more-than-100-seats-in-bihar-assembly-elections-in-3-phases-40-will-be-kushwaha-candidates-127801758.html|title=जाति की राजनीति:बिहार विधानसभा चुनाव में 3 चरण में 100 से अधिक सीटों पर लड़ेगी रालोसपा, 40% होंगे कुशवाहा प्रत्याशी|website=Dainik Bhaskar|accessdate=2020-10-11|quote=Trans.:In the assembly elections, political parties are putting up more candidates for their base vote castes. The RLSP, the main constituent of the Grand Democratic Secular Front, considers the Kushwaha (Koeri) society its base vote. This front consists of 6 parties. Of these, RALOSPA will contest the most seats. The party will contest elections on more than 100 seats, including 40% Kushwaha candidates. The RLSP has fielded candidates for 42 seats in the first phase, of which 17 are Kushwaha candidates. }}</ref> Similarly in the list of its 37 candidates in the second phase also Koeri candidates were dominant accounting for 18 seats.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bhaskar.com/bihar-election/news/rlsp-fielded-18-koeri-candidates-in-37-bsp-got-80-seats-list-of-second-phase-candidates-released-127821616.html|title=RLSP fielded 18 Koeri candidates in 37, BSP got 80 seats|website=Dainik Bhaskar|accessdate=2020-10-17}}</ref>

The Grand Democratic Secular front however failed to perform as it claimed earlier in the Bihar Assembly Elections of 2020. Its only success was in obtaining six seats, five of which were won by AIMIM in the [[Muslim]] dominated Simanchal region of Bihar. The Bahujan Samaj Party also won one seat but the RLSP, the principal political party of the alliance performed badly and failed to win any seats.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/elections/bihar-polls-owaisi-arrives-with-5-big-wins-hits-grand-alliance-7046738/|title=Bihar-polls-owaisi-arrives-with-5-big-wins-hits-grand-alliance|first=Wali|last=Ahmed|website=Indian Exoress|accessdate=2020-11-15}}</ref>

===Performance in 2020 Bihar Assembly elections<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/bihar-election/exit-of-smaller-parties-dented-mahagathbandhan-s-chances-of-regaining-power-in-bihar/story-p0THw5c0QCYQ0OY3AjJHcJ.html|title= Exit of smaller parties dented Mahagathbandhan’s chances of regaining power in Bihar|website=Hindustan Times|accessdate=2020-11-22}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://zeenews.india.com/india/owaisi-mayawati-or-upendra-kushwaha-why-rjd-led-grand-alliance-lost-fort-bihar-to-nda-2324096.html|title=Owaisi, Mayawati or Upendra Kushwaha: Why RJD-led Grand Alliance lost fort Bihar to NDA?|website=Zee News|accessdate=2020-11-22}}</ref> ===
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="2" rowspan="2" |Alliance
! colspan="2" rowspan="2" |Party
! colspan="3" |Popular vote
! colspan="3" |Seats
|-
!Votes
!%
!±[[Percentage point|pp]]
!Contested
!Won
!'''+/−'''
|-

|-
|colspan=10 bgcolor="{{party color|Rashtriya Lok Samta Party}}"|
|-
|rowspan=6 bgcolor="{{party color|Rashtriya Lok Samta Party}}"|
!rowspan=6|GDSF
|bgcolor="{{party color|All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen}}"|
|[[All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen|AIMIM]]
|523,279
|1.24%
|{{increase}}1.03%
|20
|5
|{{increase}} 5
|-
|bgcolor="{{party color|Bahujan Samaj Party}}"|
|[[Bahujan Samaj Party|BSP]]
|628,944
|1.49%
|{{decrease}}0.60%
|80
|1
|{{increase}} 1
|-
|bgcolor="{{party color|Rashtriya Lok Samta Party}}"|
|[[Rashtriya Lok Samta Party|RLSP]]
|744,221
|1.77%
|{{decrease}}0.82%
|104
|0
|{{decrease}} 2
|-
|bgcolor="{{party color|Samajwadi Janata Party (Rashtriya)}}"|
|[[Samajwadi Janata Dal Democratic|SJDD]]
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|25
|0
|{{n/a}}
|-
|bgcolor="{{party color|Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party}}"|
|[[Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party|SBSP]]
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|5
|0
|{{n/a}}
|-
|bgcolor="blue"|
|Janvadi Party (Socialist)|JP-S
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|5
|0
|{{n/a}}
|-
|}

==Defection of legislators and dormancy==
Following its poor performance in [[2020 Bihar Legislative Assembly election|Bihar Assembly elections of 2020]], the coalition ripped apart with its elected [[Member of Legislative Assembly]] meeting with leaders of other political parties. [[Mohd Zama Khan|Zama Khan]], the single legislator from [[Bahujan Samaj Party]] joined [[Janata Dal (United)]] and was made a minister in the expanded cabinet of [[Nitish Kumar]] in 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|title=BSP's lone MLA Jama Khan joins Nitish Kumar's JD-U in Bihar|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2021/jan/23/bsps-lonemla-jama-khan-joins-nitish-kumars-jd-u-in-bihar-2253814.html|access-date=2021-12-10|website=The New Indian Express}}</ref> The defection was followed by the attempt of JD(U) to merge the [[Rashtriya Lok Samta Party|Rashtriya Lok Samata Party]], which happened inevitably in 2021. The merger of [[Rashtriya Lok Samta Party|RLSP]] into the [[Janata Dal (United)|JDU]] ripped the coalition apart. The coalition virtually ceased to exist after it.

== Members and status of parties during 2020 Bihar elections==
{| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible"
|+
! colspan="2" style="width:30px;" |Party
! scope="col" |Abbreviation
! style="width:100px;" |MPs in Lok Sabha
! style="width:100px;" |MPs in Rajya Sabha
! style="width:100px;" |Seats in Bihar Legislative Assembly
! style="width:250px;" |Base State
|-
| width="4px" style="background-color: {{party color|Bahujan Samaj Party}}" |
|[[Bahujan Samaj Party]] [[File:Elephant Bahujan Samaj Party.svg|50px|Bahujan Samaj Party Flag]]
|[[Bahujan Samaj Party|BSP]]
|10
|4
|1
|[[List of recognised political parties in India#National|National Party]]
|-
| width="4px" style="background-color: {{party color|All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen}}" |
|[[All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen]][[File:Indian Election Symbol Kite.svg|50px|kite]]
|[[All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen|AIMIM]]
|2
|0
|5
|[[Telangana]]
[[Bihar]]

[[Maharashtra]]
|-
| width="4px" style="background-color: {{party color|Samajwadi Janata Party (Rashtriya)}}" |
|[[Samajwadi Janata Dal Democratic]]
|[[Samajwadi Janata Dal Democratic|SJDD]]
|0
|0
|0
|[[Bihar]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.siasat.com/aimim-floats-secular-alliance-for-bihar-elections-1978455.html|title=AIMIM floats secular alliance for Bihar elections|date=September 20, 2020|via=The Siyasat Daily}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/owaisi-forms-third-front-ahead-of-bihar-elections-6602895.html|title=Owaisi forms third front ahead of Bihar elections|date=September 20, 2020|via=The Indian Express}}</ref>
|-
| width="4px" style="background-color: {{party color|Rashtriya Lok Samta Party}}" |
|[[Rashtriya Lok Samta Party]][[File:Indian Election Symbol Ceiling Fan.svg|50px]]
|[[Rashtriya Lok Samta Party|RLSP]]
|0
|0
|0
|[[Bihar]]
|-
| width="4px" style="background-color: {{party color|Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party}}" |
|[[Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party]]
|[[Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party|SBSP]]
|0
|0
|0
|[[Uttar Pradesh]]
|-
| width="4px" style="background-color: {{party color|Bahujan Samaj Party}}" |
|Janvadi Party Socialist
|Janvadi Party Socialist
|0
|0
|0
|[[Uttar Pradesh]]
|-
|}

==See also==
* [[United Progressive Alliance]]
* [[National Democratic Alliance]]
* [[Mahagathbandhan (Bihar)]]
*[[Progressive Democratic Alliance (Bihar)]]
* [[Coalition government]]
* [[Federal Front]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{Bihar elections}}

==External links==
*[https://navbharattimes.indiatimes.com/elections/assembly-elections/bihar/news/bihar-chunav-2020-will-upendra-kushwaha-gdsf-can-become-kingmaker-against-nda-and-mahagathbandhan-bsp-aimim/amp_articleshow/78993223.cms]

[[Category:2020 Bihar Legislative Assembly election]]
[[Category:2020s in Bihar]]
[[Category:Political parties in India]]
[[Category:2020 in Indian politics]]