Naidu meets Karat, Maya to forge Third Front

NEW DELHI: Efforts to give a final shape to a national alternative to Congress and BJP on Saturday gained momentum with TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu meeting CPI(M) General Secretary Prakash Karat and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati here.

Naidu and Karat were understood to have discussed the emerging political scenario in the backdrop of BSP chief Mayawati unilaterally announcing that her party would contest all the 80 Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh.

They expressed the hope that the Third Front would take shape by this month-end after all the ten parties of the grouping hold meeting among themselves.

"By this month-end, everything will be clear," CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury told reporters after the hour-long meeting Naidu had with Karat.

Yechury said discussions were on to give a final shape to the grouping. "The programme, policies and other issues will be clear soon," he added.

Asked about RLD's displeasure over Mayawati's announcement, Yechury said all those issues will be discussed.

Naidu said that during his meeting with Karat, they discussed how to work out the programme for the new Front.

Late in the night, Naidu held a two-hour discussions with Mayawati over dinner.

"We did not discuss seat-sharing but how to evolve the organisation (Third Front) together," Naidu told reporters after the meeting with Mayawati at her residence.

Naidu said they would meet again soon. Sources meanwhile said the Third Front constituents would be meeting next week to unveil their strategy to take on the Congress-led coalition and also discuss organisational structure of the alliance and a joint campaign committee.