CHENNAI: In what is considered by political observers as an attempt to build an alternative front in Tamil Nadu, CPM politburo member and State general secretary G Ramakrishnan on Saturday called on MDMK leader Vaiko and discussed the political scenario in the State.
Later, addressing a joint press conference at Thayagam, the MDMK headquarters, the two leaders came down heavily on the policies of the Central and State governments and vowed to build a broad based political front to mobilise people against the two governments. Though Vaiko and Ramakrishnan said they would form a common platform based on policies and ideology, they did not commit themselves to an electoral alliance for the forthcoming Assembly elections.
It may be recalled that the two parties faced a rout despite forging an alliance in 1996 for the Assembly and Parliament elections. Again they formed part of the alliance in the 2004 and 2009 Parliament elections but have never been in a direct tie-up since 1996. The Left parties have repeatedly declared that they would not have ties with AIADMK and DMK and expressed their intentions to form an alternative front for the 2016 Assembly elections.
Recently, Left leaders shared the dais with Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi leader Thol Thirumavalavan and openly invited the Dalit leader to join hands with them to form an alternative front in Tamil Nadu. Thirumavalavan too had responded positively. As such, the inclusion of MDMK would strengthen the alternative front.
But, Vaiko has broken ice with the DMK leadership and is showing signs of joining the DMK front as and when it is announced.
After a long gap, Vaiko greeted DMK leader M Karunanidhi on his birthday and attended a marriage function in his mentor’s family and praised Karunanidhi, besides vowing to protect the Dravidian movement.