It felt like an alumni meeting at the Shiraz Hall in Egmore on Friday evening. On the stage were leaders of the PWF, on the occasion of the MDMK’s Iftar dinner. TMC’s G.K. Vasan, who recently quit the PWF alliance, was also present, seated between CPI’s R. Mutharasan and MDMK’s Vaiko, but he looked as comfortable as someone who shifted to a different school before his batch graduated: he was treated too well to be part of the coterie anymore; he was never in on the jokes.
With the DMDK indicating that it was no longer part of the alliance, the Third Front has been pared down to square one: the PWF.
Mr. Vasan’s TMC had left earlier this week, but he announced that he had received Mr. Vaiko’s invitation.
The message that came out was unambiguous. “Parties can come and go, but we are the People’s Welfare Front and will remain together. Others are welcome to join,” said Mr. Vaiko after breaking the fast.
Not one to let go of an opportunity for symbolism, Mr. Vaiko had earlier invited Mr. Vasan to speak first. “When minorities progress, our country progresses. We cannot move forward unless minorities are given opportunities for a better life,” the TMC leader.
The leaders of the PWF insisted that they are still doing the right thing. “We trust each other and will remain together,” said CPI State secretary Mutharasan.
CPI (M) State secretary G. Ramakrishnan called for a fight to uphold the country’s secular credentials. VCK’s Thol. Thirumavalavan put it succinctly: “Others call for a partial ban on alcohol after profiting from alcohol and sand sales. We have nothing to do with either and have the courage to say that we should ban alcohol completely.”
“We lost, even the best football teams lose. Brazil lost at the Copa America, Spain lost recently at the Euro. We will be back,” said Mr. Vaiko, who admitted to being a football fan and watched matches late into the night.
Despite the drubbing in elections, Vaiko and Mutharasan say the fight is on and others can join them
