Breaking his silence on the formation of an alternative alliance to the AIADMK and the DMK, former Union Minister and Tamil Manila Congress leader G.K. Vasan said a third front would be viable if “everyone other than the ruling party and the party that has ruled earlier come together.”
However, he added that in the existing scenario, he was “not able to see such a set up.”
The constituents of the Left-led People’s Welfare Front have already extended their invitation to Mr. Vasan to join the formation.
On how he viewed the emergence of a strong alternative to the two principal Dravidian parties, Mr. Vasan told The Hindu that such a third front would “culminate” only when every other strong party other than the DMK and the AIADMK come together.
“If a front is formed with all the leading parties other than the two, it would lead to a viable front. But I do not see such a situation at present,” he said.
Asked if he would join such a formation if it eventually does take shape, Mr. Vasan clarified that he was working alone at the moment with the sole aim of expanding the TMC’s presence across the State. “It is the wish of my party people that I focus on touring alone so that we a have vibrant organisation,” he said, adding he would finish these tours in February. On a recent opinion poll which suggested that Chief Minister Jayalalithaa was leading the pack of Chief Ministerial candidates and DMK treasurer coming a close second, Mr. Vasan said he would not want to “underestimate” such surveys but was more confident on the people’s opinion than opinion polls.
Candidature non-negotiable
Meanwhile, PMK MP Anbumani Ramadoss said apart from his party leading the alliance, his chief ministerial candidature was also a “non-negotiable” stipulation.
“Whether it is the BJP or the DMDK, they can join us if they agree to PMK leadership and me as the chief ministerial candidate,” he said.
