Congress-backed Third Front govt a possibility: Chavan

In this file photo, Maharashtra Chief Minister Pritviraj Chavan is seen with Congress President Sonia Gandhi. Mr. Chavan on Friday spoke about the possibility of the Congress backing a Third Front government after the elections.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan said on Friday that a Congress-backed Third Front government could be a possibility in the post-poll scenario.

“I do not see a great possibility of the NDA’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi getting the post. Even if the NDA gets a larger number of seats, allies may not agree to him becoming the Prime Minister. A Congress-backed Third Front government could be a possibility,” he said at a press conference.

Meanwhile, Mr. Chavan’s statement earlier this week that regional parties should not be allowed to contest Lok Sabha elections drew sharp criticism from the Congress ally, the Nationalist Congress Party. “It is the constitutional right of every citizen and political party to contest elections,” said NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik.

Mr. Chavan clarified that he was only making a suggestion with the aim of ensuring greater political stability. “I am concerned about political stability since we have thousands of regional parties. In Germany. regional parties are not allowed to contest national elections. But my statement is just a suggestion which should be discussed,” he said.