Third Front akin to ex-servicemen fora: Minister

Madurai, June 22 (UNI) Dismissing the Third Front as a grouping similar to an ex-servicemen fora, Union Minister of State for Textiles E V K S Elangovan today formed it a rudderless ship without any direction.

Addressing mediapersons here before commencing the campaign for the party nominee in the bye-election for the Madurai West Assembly constituency, he said the Third Front could neither acquire any political space nor fill up any void, as none existed.

''It is a gathering of former chief ministers and those politically marginalised and relegated to the backyard,'' he said in response to a question.

Having a dig at the newly-formed UNPA, he asked, ''Who is its leader? Mr Chandrababu Naidu or Mr Mulayam Singh?'' In his opinion, it was nothing more than an association akin to an ex-servicemen for a club of former sportspersons craving for recognition.

On the UNPA's attempt to secure the consent of President A P J Abdul Kalam to contest for a second term, the Congress leader said it was nothing but an attempt to derive political mileage by dragging the office of the President into a political game.

''Dr Kalam will not run for a second term,'' he said and recalled the President's reaction describing Ms Pratibha Patil's choice as 'fantastic.' Ms Jayalalithaa's attempts to hoodwink the Election Commission and get the bypoll either countermanded or postponed would not fructify, he said and expressed confidence that the party nominee, fielded by the DMK-led DPA, would win by a margin of over 25,000 votes.

The AIADMK's demand for postponement was borne out its fear of losing the election, he noted and dismissed the charges of violence during the campaign.

Criticising the AIADMK General Secretary for belittling the UPA-Left choice of Ms Patil, the Minister said the election would prove who was more popular among the people.

The Minister vehemently refuted the AIADMK leader's charge that Ms Sonia Gandhi was against the development of Tamil Nadu and Tamils. The Sethu Samudram Project, removal of CENVAT, benefitting weavers of the state, according Classical Language status to Tamil, were possible only because of the active support of Ms Gandhi, he pointed out.

Even at the personal level Ms Jayalalithaa could not be equated with the Congress President, who had never reacted to any of the diatribes made against her by the AIADMK supremo, he quipped.

UNI