Naidu, Prakash discuss N-deal, Third Front

New Delhi Dec 18 (UNI) UNPA Convenor and TDP supremo Chandrababu Naidu today met CPI(M) General Secretary Prakash karat and is understood to have discussed with him the current political scenario with special emphasis on the Indo - US nuclear deal and the need for intensitying efforts to rebuild the" Third Front." During the 40 minutes meeting between the two leaders at the CPI(M) headquarters, and, Mr Naidu told the Marxist leader that there is no ambiguity in the UNPA's stand on the pact and that it is totally opposed to it, sources said.

The meeting assumes significance in the backdrop of Mr Karat's recent statement that the people were against both the Congress and the BJP as they stood for anti-people economic policies and that efforts were being made for a "Third Front." The UNPA comprising the TDP, AIADMK, Samajwadi Party, INDL of Om Prakash Choutala and ASGP came into being this year when the presidential elections were on. But AIADMK is no more part of it.

Stating that the government had to honour the" sense of the House" of the parliament which was obviously opposed to the deal as demonstrated in the debate, Mr Naidu told Mr Karat that there should be no misunderstanding about the UNPA thinking on the issue.

The possibility of the revival of the "Third Front" which comprises the four Left parties also, seem to be brightening with the PA coalition and the Left parties being on a war path because of their opposite positions on the deal.

CPI General Secretary A B Bardhan and his counterpart in the CPI(M) recently issued warnings that if the government insisted on operationalising the pact, they would not hesitate in withdrawing their crucial support to it.

UNI