DMK plays hardball with Congress on third front

DMK working president MK Stalin, who has been maintaining till a while ago that they were in alliance with the Congress is now making cryptic statements that could leave the Congress thinking. Even on Friday, while parrying a query on including the Congress in the alliance against the BJP, Stalin who hosted former BJP leaders Yaswant Sinha and sitting MP Shatrughan Sinha, tersely said they had discussed the composition of the alliance. Asked if Congress would be a part of it, Stalin said, “Our aim is to unseat the BJP. The meeting (with Sinhas) has happened only to discuss who to align with. I stated this after hosting Telangana Chief Minister Chandrasekhar Rao. I reiterate it now.” 

When a similar query was posed to him when KCR visited, an evasive Stalin said the Lok Sabha election was due only in 2019 and it was a tad early to harp on alliance. That Stalin, who had asserted after receiving an invitation for a third front from Mamata Banerjee over a month ago, has now avoided making categorical statements about their relationship with the Congress was proof of the attitudinal change of the DMK, which wants to show Congress its place in 2019.  

“Non-Congress leaders opposing the BJP are approaching us from the north and south. The next Lok Sabha election will see a strong regional formation. Like us (DMK), parties like TMC, TDP, TRS and a few others are strong in their respective states. We are not for ditching the Congress, but we will not let Congress drive a hard bargain in 2019. Let Congress win in its forte. We will do it in our turf. Aim is to keep the BJP out of power,” said a DMK senior. 

“Like in 2011 and 2016, Stalin will not compromise on seats to the Congress. If the Congress wants to join us it should be ready for compromises,” the leader remarked.  Even Congress leaders conceded privately that they would have an uphill task at the negotiation table with the DMK. “We are out of power. Nationally, regional parties are very strong this time. Regional parties are aware that they cannot form a government without Congress support at the Centre. We have to be amiable to them if we want to defeat BJP. But, we cannot talk tough with the DMK,” said a senior Congress leader requesting anonymity.