Southern States - Tamil Nadu

Elangovan meets Nallakannu, begins secular front effort

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI APRIL 21 In an attempt at forging a ``secular'' front for the coming Assembly byelections, the Tamil Nadu Congress president, E.V.K.S. Elangovan, held discussions with the State CPI secretary, R. Nallakannu, here today.

Mr. Elangovan said the meeting was only a ``preliminary effort'' at exploring the possibility of field common candidates on behalf of the ``secular'' parties as an alternative to the DMK- BJP combine and the AIADMK.

The CPI had agreed to talk to the CPI (M), the Tamil Maanila Congress, the Dalit Panthers of India and the Congress Jananayaga Peravai on joining the effort at forming a secular front, Mr.Elangovan said. He would meet the DPI leader, R.Tirumavalavan, tomorrow.

While the CPI is willing to be part of a Congress-inclusive front, the CPI(M) alone has reservations, particularly about an alliance led by the Congress.

Mr.Elangovan's frantic bid to cobble up an alternative front during the February Andipatti byelection, in which Jayalalithaa got elected to the Assembly, came a cropper principally because of the CPI (M) reluctance to tie up with the Congress.

However, this time round, the State CPI leadership is expected to mount pressure on its Left brethren and ensure that a ``secular front'' minus the AIADMK and the DMK becomes a reality.

Though neither the Congress and the TMC nor the Left parties have high stakes in Saidapet, Vaniyambadi and Acharapakkam, the State Congress and CPI leaders see the byelections as a ``dry run'' for a full-fledged launch of the secular front in the State before the 2004 parliamentary election.

While the Congress is keen on fielding J.M.Haroon, who unsuccessfully contested on DMK symbol in the last Assembly election in Vaniyambadi, the CPI (M) and the CPI may not be averse to trying their luck in Saidapet.

The TMC, which is all set to merge with the Congress, may just play a supporting role and may not jump into the fray.

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