Chennai: DMK President MK Stalin Tuesday said he saw no chances for a non-BJP, non-Congress “third front” post Lok Sabha polls, but a decision could be taken only after May 23, the counting day.
Stalin’s remarks come a day after TRS supremo and Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekara Rao, who has been pushing for a non-Congress, non-BJP federal front of regional parties, called on the DMK chief here.
Stalin, also Tamil Nadu Leader of Opposition, said Rao had not visited the state for forging alliances.
“He did not come to form alliances. He came to Tamil Nadu to offer prayers in various temples and on that basis, sought an appointment with me for a courtesy call. That is all,” he told reporters here.
Rao had earlier visited the Sri Ranganatha Temple at Srirangam before meeting Stalin.
Asked about the possibility of a “third front” sans BJP and Congress, the DMK leader said, “It doesn’t seem to me that there is a chance for that.”
“However, that will be decided only after counting on May 23,” he added.
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The numbers just do not add up. Take away the close to 300 seats the Congress and the BJP traditionally win, and the rump that remains does not get comfortably past 272. It also contains mutually incompatible binaries like DMK – AIADMK, TMC – Left, NC – PDP, until recently the SP – BSP, as well as parties like the Shiv Sena and the Akalis that belong to the saffron camp. The Congress will have to deal with allies with finesse and magnanimity.