The party was of the view that at present, there is no Third Front as such and discussions were on to form a coalition which can act as an alternative to Congress and BJP at the national level.

Asked about its conspicuous absence at the Tumkur rally, RSP general secretary T J Chandrachoodan said the party was invited for it but decided not to attend the rally organized by JD(S) for the precise reason that its chief H D Deve Gowda was planning to announce the Third Front at that meeting.

"A group photo of some people does not mean a front. It has to have a policy and programme. There is no Third Front now and discussions are on to form one," he told reporters here.

His comments came after a two-day meeting of RSP's central secretariat and barely hours before a meet of the constituents of the third alternative and a dinner hosted by BSP supremo Mayawati.