Third Front List to be Out on April 10

MADURAI: The ‘Third Front’ will announce its candidates for the upcoming Assembly elections during its meeting scheduled for April 10 in Chennai, People’s Welfare Alliance (PWA) sources told Express.

After entering into an alliance with the DMDK two days ago, each of the four constituents of the PWA has begun identifying the seats where they have better chances of victory so as to arrive at a deal, sources added.

Based on the results from past elections, the allies - MDMK, VCK, CPM and CPI - have identified three categories of constituencies: one where each party calculates that it has the best chance of winning, two where it can put up a good performance and perhaps even win, and three where it is contesting to up the voteshare more than anything else. All are said to be looking at having at least 10 seats in the first category.

Sources said the list had been handed over to alliance coordinator Vaiko. These parties will first discuss this among themselves before taking it to DMDK leader Vijayakant to begin the second round of discussion on which 110 seats from the total 234 constituencies they would contest.

The VCK has planned to contest from general constituencies as well, ones where Dalit population is more than other communities. The party believes that this is essential to bring in non-Dalit supporters to the party and also to shed the tag of being a Dalit outfit, sources said. Also, to capitalise on their identity of being the alternative to the existing political outfits, the allies have decided to consider noted activists including transgenders to field in the election.

Meanwhile, DMDK women wing leader and party founder Vijayakant’s wife Premalatha began her first-phase campaign in Tirunelveli on Friday. This round of campaigning would conclude in Vellore on April 4. After completing this phase, Vijayakant and family would visit Tirupati the next day.