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Third front will materialise if key players unite: Chidambaram

By Our Staff Reporter

SALEM JUNE 14. If key political parties other than the DMK and the AIADMK unite under single banner, the elusive third front can definitely be realised in Tamil Nadu, the former Union Minister for Finance and the Congress Jananayaga Peravai leader, P. Chidambaram, said today.

Describing the accepted thinking that the two Dravidian parties alone could form a government in the State as an "irrational belief", he reiterated that an effective third front, including the Congress, the CJP and other like-minded parties could be formed for the Assembly polls in 2006.

Talking to reporters here after attending a series of party functions, Mr. Chidambaram said the emerging political scenario had bolstered this move and the support base was growing stronger.

The PMK leader, S. Ramadoss, vowed to form a Government after the 2006 polls. This meant the PMK had started thinking of the third front.

"The PMK is well aware that it cannot form the Government on its own," Mr. Chidambaram said and pointed out that many States had successful coalition governments.

However, he categorically ruled out any chance of a third front, getting formed at the national level where, he said, just two alliances, led by the Congress and the BJP, would prevail for the forthcoming parliament polls.

The AIADMK had been moving closer to the BJP and there was only a delay in the formal announcement, he claimed.

Reacting to the AIADMK leader, Jayalalithaa's reference to the Congress president as an `outsider', the CJP leader said the majority of the people in the country accepted Sonia Gandhi as their leader.

"Very few like the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister are looking at the issue from that unhealthy angle."

Mr. Chidambaram saw no reason why Ms. Jayalalithaa should react strongly to the observation by the Pope on the anti-conversion Act.

He drew attention to the fact that Parliament had not passed such legislation.

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