No third front, will continue ties with Cong in 2019: DMK
CHENNAI: Putting an end to speculation about it becoming part of a so-called third front for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the DMK has categorically said that it will continue its ties with the Congress.
DMK’s principal secretary and deputy leader of the opposition in the Tamil Nadu assembly, Durai Murugan, said: “We have no idea about the regional front which West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee is looking to form.”
Putting an end to speculation about becoming part of a third front ahead of Lok Sabha Polls in 2019, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam(DMK) has categorically declared that it will continue its ties with the Congress party.
DMK’s principal secretary and deputy leader of the opposition in the Tamil Nadu assembly, Durai Murugan said, “We have no idea about the regional front which West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee is looking to form. The DMK will continue its alliance with the Congress party.”
H Vasanthakumar, MLA and vice-president of Tamil Nadu Congress Committee said,“We are with the DMK in the state. Both the Congress and the DMK are jointly protesting for the people’s welfare. So, there is no question of third front in Tamil Nadu. We are happy with the statement of DMK’s principal secretary.”
It may be recalled that DMK working president MK Stalin extended his support to West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee in her bid “to protect the federal structure and autonomy of states”.
Subsequently, Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) leader and Telangana chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao, who has also expressed concerns over challenges to state’s autonomy had visited Stalin on April 29.
Both the developments had raised speculations on a possible third front.
But Durai Murugan’s statement effectively shuts the door on such a front.
Explaining the DMK’s stand, Saravanan Annadurai, DMK spokesperson said, “When Telangana chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao met MK Stalin, there was no talk about the third front. The DMK will support all the chief ministers who speak out for the cause of federal structure and autonomy for states. When it comes to the electoral alliance, we stand with the Congress.”
It may be recalled that ahead of the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, the DMK had exited from the UPA-II alliance.
Both the DMK and the Congress contested separately, and lost 40 seats in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.