DMK to be with Congress, unsure of third front

Chennai: The DMK said on Tuesday that it will stick with the Congress even after the Lok Sabha elections and that this had been conveyed to Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao who favours a non-Congress, non-BJP coalition to govern India.

"We are committed to the Congress. Never in the history of the DMK has it changed its alliance post elections. The party has always stuck to its pre-poll alliance partner," a DMK leader told IANS on the condition of anonymity.

He said that the importance of DMK's alliance with the Congress was explained to Rao at the meeting with Stalin here on Monday.

Rao was requested to look at the possibility of supporting the Congress, an idea which he did not negate.

"Our party will not align with the BJP with or without Narendra Modi as it would have a negative impact in Tamil Nadu. There is an anti-BJP wave in Tamil Nadu. The DMK will not be part of a third front government formed with the support of BJP," the DMK leader added.

DMK President M.K. Stalin told the media that it will be known only after the Lok Sabha election results are declared whether a non-Congress, non-BJP grouping was possible.

He said the Telangana Chief Minister met him on Monday out of courtesy. He said Rao came to Tamil Nadu primarily to visit temples.

Stalin said Rao did not meet him in connection with the formation of a third front.

Rao on Monday had an hour-long meeting with Stalin here but it appeared that his proposal for a non-BJP, non-Congress coalition didn't have takers.

According to the DMK, ideally the Congress should be part of any central government so that there is stability.

"In fact Rao's own party TRS has to win all the 17 Lok Sabha seats in Telangana so that he can try to forge a third front post election results," said the DMK leader who did not wish to be identified.

Political analyst Raveendhran Dhuraiswamy told IANS: "The DMK-Congress combine will get a sizeable percentage of votes. The DMK will not go with BJP after the elections. As for Stalin, Tamil Nadu is more important than having a say in the central government."

According to one DMK leader, if some third front proponents join hands with the BJP and form a coalition, then the DMK and Congress will be left alone.

Meanwhile, DMK senior leader and Treasurer Duraimurugan on Tuesday met Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu at Amaravati.

Duraimurugan told reporters that he met Naidu as a mark of courtesy.