DMK backs Mamata’s federal front idea

Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam leader M.K. Stalin on Wednesday endorsed West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee’s recent dialogue on building a federal front based on a 1:1 formula, which talks of giving the leadership in each State to the best challenger to the BJP, leaving very little ground for the Congress to cover.

“The DMK has always stood for the unity of regional parties and stronger federal co-operation. I endorse the efforts of @mamataofficial to bring together various political parties to oppose the autocratic and anti-democratic rule of the BJP,” Mr. Stalin tweeted on Wednesday evening.

Soon, Ms. Banerjee thanked the DMK leader. “Thank you. We extend our full support,” she tweeted. Trinamool sources told The Hindu that Ms. Banerjee was “expected” to visit Chennai any time soon to meet DMK chief M. Karunanidhi and Mr Stalin. DMK spokesperson S. Manu told The Hindu that not much should be read into Mr. Stalin’s tweet. “Mamata Banerjee has come up with a novel political strategy to forge a pan national non-BJP alliance. We endorse this endeavour to oust the BJP,” he said.

Alliance with Congress

The DMK is in direct alliance with the Congress in Tamil Nadu. Mr. Stalin’s support for Ms. Banerjee’s formula of building a federal front comes at a time when the Congress has maintained a studied silence over the issue and when the Trinamool is aggressively pushing for the driver’s seat to lead such a front.

In a Facebook interaction on Tuesday, Ms. Banerjee made it clear that the Congress can be part of such a front only if it agrees to the 1:1 formula. The Congress is uneasy about the idea.

(With Suvojit Bagchi)