No chance of Third Front, says MK Stalin

Chennai: Virtually shutting the door on Telangana CM Chandrasekar Rao's Federal Front ambition, DMK president M K Stalin on Tuesday said he saw no prospect of a Third Front sans BJP and Congress emerging winner in the elections.

“I don't see a Third Front happening, but a final decision can wait till after the votes are counted on May 23”, he told reporters here.

When asked about the visit of CM Rao to his house on Monday to discuss Federal Front, Stalin insisted that his guest did not have the alliance talks on his agenda. “He did not come to form alliances. He came to Tamil Nadu to offer prayers in various temples. In the course of that, he sought an appointment with me for a courtesy call. That is all,” Stalin insisted.

Sources however said Chandrasekar Rao explained to Stalin that he and his DMK could play a major role at the Centre, post-May 23, considering the party was most likely to emerge with a big chunk of seats from Tamil Nadu. On the other hand, the DMK would have to be satisfied playing a second fiddle to the Congress if Stalin chose to remain as a mere loyal constituent of the UPA, Rao told his host, who stuck to his position that the DMK would stay with Congress.