Chennai: At his 70th birthday bash at a mega public meeting in Chennai Wednesday, DMK president and Tamil Nadu chief minister M.K. Stalin set the narrative for the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha polls, saying: “Talking about a third front is pointless.”
“All the parties have to rise above their differences and stand together as a united force to defeat the BJP in 2024,” he said.
“Talking about a third front is pointless. I humbly request all political parties opposed to the BJP to understand this simple electoral arithmetic and stand united,” he asserted at the event, where almost the entire opposition was invited.
Stalin added that the Congress had given him his ‘birthday present’ at the party’s 85th plenary session, held in Raipur recently, where a resolution was adopted for a call for a united opposition. “The resolution is my birthday gift,” he said.
The birthday event had Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Bihar deputy CM and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav, former Jammu & Kashmir CM and National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah, and Samajwadi Party (SP) chief and former Uttar Pradesh CM Akhilesh Yadav in attendance.
Speaking to ThePrint, political observers pointed out that the Chennai public meeting was the DMK’s attempt to project Stalin as a cementing force to bring together like-minded opposition parties to defeat the BJP-led NDA at the central government, which will complete two continuous tenures next year.
“Definitely, the intention of Stalin will be to bring (together) whoever is not okay with the Congress (as opposition leader). He would try to persuade and bring them into the alliance. Will it be possible before (Lok Sabha) polls is a question,” political analyst Priyan told ThePrint.
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‘Stalin, come to national scene and build nation’
When asked about the chances of Stalin being the next prime minister, Abdullah, who landed in Chennai Wednesday, told reporters: “Why not? What is wrong with that?”
“When we all unite and win, it’ll be at that time that we’ll decide who is the best man to lead and unite this nation,” he said.
Later, while calling for a united opposition on stage during the public rally, Abdullah asserted: “Democracy is under threat, the Constitution is being threatened.” He then went on to say: “Stalin, it is time to move on. Come to the national scene and build the nation.”
Putting forth a special message to Kharge, Abdullah said: “Khargeji, let us forget who will be the PM. Let us win and then think about the PM.
To all the leaders on and off the stage, he said: “Let’s put differences to one side and work for the country.”
Kharge in his speech spoke about the continuation of the Congress alliance with the DMK in Tamil Nadu, as well as the need for a united opposition. “All like-minded parties should come together against the divisive forces and this is our desire,” he said.
Speaking to Abdullah, he added: “I have never said who will lead and who will become PM. We want to fight together and unitedly.”
Tejashwi, who joined the event late, also spoke about a united front. He said that an “undeclared emergency was on in the country” and “we need to fight back”.
He also pointed out how the RJD was able to fight the BJP in Bihar by having a united opposition. “We can defeat them. It’s not a big task. We should fight the NDA together,” he asserted.
Meanwhile, Akhilesh who has kept his distance from the Congress, did not join the party’s Bharat Jodo Yatra and refused to form an alliance with them for the 2022 UP assembly polls, kept his cards close to his chest and only spoke about the life and journey of Stalin in his address at the event. He wished him well without making any comment on the 2024 elections.
Stalin in his address told the DMK cadres that “work for parliamentary elections has begun. We should win all 40 seats in Tamil Nadu”.
(Edited by Nida Fatima Siddiqui)
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