Upset Jaya allies spark 3rd front rumours

Angry at J Jayalalithaa unilaterally releasing a list of constituencies AIADMK will contest in the April 13 election to the Tamil Nadu assembly, leaders of allies CPI, CPM, DMDK, Puthiya Tamizhagam and MMK held a protest meeting in Chennai on Thursday.

Reports are the parties discussed the possibility of a third front.

“We will meet again tomorrow [on Friday] and take a final decision,” DMDK chief Vijayakanth said.

Left leaders are furious as the AIADMK list of 160 includes 12 seats held by CPM and CPI, while Vijayakanth is upset because Jayalalithaa has usurped   some seats considered DMDK strongholds.

“She [Jayalalithaa] has taken all winnable seats and allotted us constituencies where DMK and PMK are strong,” a Left leader said.

CPI’s D Pandian, however, said: “We met to discuss ways to strengthen the coalition.”

He said there was no possibility of a third front at this juncture, but constituency allocation had to be reviewed. “We are neither happy nor unhappy with the allocation.”

CPI assistant secretary Mahendran said there was heartburn among allies. “But these things will be sorted out by tomorrow [Friday],” he said.

MDMK, a strong ally of Jayalalithaa since 2006, is also sulking. Party leader Vaiko had pitched for 21 seats, but has been given only nine.