Having ruled out any truck with the Bharatiya Janata Party and in absence any offer of a pre-poll alliance from the Congress, former Union minister Sukh Ram's Himachal Vikas Congress has decided to firm up a third front in Himachal Pradesh.

Speaking to reporters in Shimla on Sunday, Sukh Ram said the HVC-led third front would contest all 68 seats in the state.

Himachal Pradesh goes to polls on February 26.

Sukh Ram said the decision to form a third front was taken at a meeting of five political parties, including the Communist Party of India and the Communist Party of India (Marxist), at Parwanoo in Solan district on Saturday.

Sukh Ram said the third front constituents would fight the poll separately, but a common minimum programme could be considered later.

He said the HVC would severe ties with the ruling National Democratic Alliance at the Centre in order the defeat communal forces in Himachal Pradesh.

HVC's withdrawal from the NDA is of little consequence as the party has just one member each in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha.

HVC is also a coalition partner in the BJP-led government in Himachal and has two members in the cabinet. It remains to be seen if these two would now be asked to quit.

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