Leadership row weighs down 'third front'

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI, MARCH 24. Differences have surfaced in the third front even before it could take shape in Tamil Nadu. The point of contention, it is said, is leadership of the People's Democratic Front (PDF).

On the date of launching, Mr. Raja Mohammed of the Puratchi Thalaivar Anna DMK announced that the new front would be headed by his party and the general secretary, Mr. S. D. Somasundaram, would lead it.

This claim was, however, denied by Mr. G. P. Sarathy, State unit president of the Nationalist Congress Party, who is the coordinator of the front. Mr. Raja Mohammed's announcement would not bind the front as it was taken unilaterally without consulting the other partners, he told a press conference here today.

The constituents had elected Mr. N. Rajangam of the Bhahujan Samaj Party president of the PDF and this was intimated to the Puratchi Thalaivar ADMK. He claimed that a few more parties had expressed their willingness to join the front and a final shape would emerge soon.

The Janata Dal (Secular), which recently severed its ties with the AIADMK, joined the People's Democratic Front. Its general secretary, Mr. G. K. Das, participated in today's meeting of the front on behalf of the party.

Meanwhile, the Dravida Vizhipunarchi Kazhagam has decided to go on its own and contest 10 seats in the Assembly elections. The president, Mr. B. T. Kumar, talking to mediapersons here today, said there was no favourable response to the party's request for allotting a honourable number of seats from both the DMK and AIADMK fronts. In other constituencies, he said, the party would support candidates depending on merit, irrespective of their party affiliation.

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Section  : Southern States
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