Chennai: Politics is full of twists and surprises. And this on-going Lok Sabha elections is witnessing high-pitched battle even after the fifth phase of polling is completed.
The biggest surprise of all is that Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekar Rao has thrown his hat in the ring all of a sudden. He has kickstarted an initiative to bring regional parties into one fold.
Sources close to him say that he would soon call on DMK president M K Stalin and convince him on the need to form a non-BJP, non-Congress government at the Centre.
KCR has been pushing hard for a third front that strongly believes in ‘federalism’. He said such a front should take over the reins of the country. During his election campaign, he had stated that neither the Congress nor BJP would get majority to form the government at the Centre after 23 May. The need of the hour was strong and like-minded regional parties coming together, he said.
And with counting of votes slated for 23 May, KCR has begun to walk the talk. On Monday, he called
on CPI(M) leader and Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. He described the meeting as ‘political’. Reports say that he will also call on Stalin 13 May.
Political pundits are, however, doubtful whether the DMK will pay any heed to KCR’s request. They say that Stalin was the first to declare openly in a public meeting that Rahul Gandhi should be made the next Prime Minister. The rapport between the DMK and Congress is strong now.
They also recall that KCR tried such an alliance in 2018 and even met Stalin and M Karunanidhi then. But it couldn’t take off. Reports also say that KCR is in touch with Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumarasamy. Leaders of AAP, too, have spoken to him.
Duraisamy, a political observer, says, “KCR is trying what Chandrababu Naidu failed to achieve. Until the Lok Sabha polls were announced, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu was trying hard for ‘Mahagatbandhan’ against the BJP and it never really took off.”
“The question of DMK joining the front may not be ruled out. In case both national parties fail to muster a majority, then regional parties will have a say. It would be advantage DMK if the federal alliance came to power.”
He also recalled how the Congress gave outside support to Chandrasekhar’s government in 1990 as stop gap arrangement to prevent elections immediately after no party managed majority then.
Speaking to News Today, a DMK leader said, “We strongly believe that people want a change. They have voted for a change. We fought the elections with the Congress. We are confident of our victory. Across the nation, the Congress alliance will sweep the polls. Hence, a question of third front never arises. Rahul should become Prime Minister.”
However, he ended on a cautious note stating that all options should be kept open. We must be ready for anything as politics is a different ball game, he added.