Stalin’s support for CJP fuels talk of DMK’s third-front plans

Chennai: DMK president M.K. Stalin’s public backing for the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) has set off speculation that the party may be seeking new allies outside the BJP- and Congress-led formations as it weighs the possibility of a national third front.

The development comes weeks after the DMK’s defeat in the Tamil Nadu Assembly election, which has left it searching for a clearer political position. Although Stalin’s remarks were aimed at the arrest of two CJP functionaries, they are being read in political circles as a sign of the party’s willingness to engage with forces beyond its traditional alliances. No formal understanding with the CJP has, however, been announced.

Stalin strongly criticised the detention of CJP leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka in Delhi and said the DMK was ready to extend all necessary legal support to them. CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke responded by thanking the DMK chief for speaking out on the issue.

The DMK had fought the last Lok Sabha and Assembly polls alongside the Congress in the INDIA bloc. But the equation changed after the Assembly election, when Congress joined the winning TVK-led coalition and took two ministerial berths. With the AIADMK now aligned with the BJP and the TVK tied to the Congress-led camp, the DMK finds itself with limited room within either bloc.

The party has already begun exploring alternatives. DMK deputy general secretary Kanimozhi earlier met Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee, NCP leader Sharad Pawar and Shiv Sena leader Uddhav Thackeray as part of discussions on a possible third front. Those engagements have not yet resulted in any arrangement.

Stalin’s latest comments came amid protests in Delhi demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over the special revision of electoral rolls. Das and Ranka were arrested for allegedly entering the Jantar Mantar area without authorisation.

Attacking the BJP-led government’s handling of the protests, Stalin asked how many demonstrators it could arrest and how many young voices it could silence. He said the DMK would stand firmly with the detained CJP leaders and provide them legal assistance.

The DMK president also warned that arresting more young people would only strengthen public anger, claiming that even citizens with no political affiliation could come out onto the streets.

While Stalin’s statement clearly signals support for the CJP, it remains to be seen whether it will grow into a broader political arrangement. The proposed third front still lacks a clear structure, leadership framework or common programme.

(Inputs from IANS)