'Jaylalithaa, Mayawati can co-exist in Third Front'

Janata Dal - Secular chief H D Deve Gowda on Wednesday said the final shape of the Third Front would be known only after the Lok Sabha elections.

"The first part of the alliance is ready. The second part would be decided only after the election results are announced," Gowda said. He added that "all secular parties will rise to find a solution on forming the government at the Centre".

As of now, four Left parties, the Telugu Desam Party, the Telangana Rashtra Samiti, All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the JD-S form the Third Front.

Though AIADMK chief Jayalalithaa is a recent entrant to the alliance, her unpredictable nature could affect the Third Front, sources said.

But Gowda dismissed this possibility, saying "every political leader has his or her commitments, so this question should not arise. I would not criticise her".

The former prime minister also hinted that Bahujan Samaj Party supremo Mayawati could also join the alliance, though she had, after an initial show of support to the Third Front, made it clear that she would never share seats with anybody for the Lok Sabha polls.

Indicating that both Jayalalithaa and Mayawati could co-exist within the alliance, Gowda said, "Jayalalithaa has never ever had any problems with Mayawati. This was never an issue."

On whether Jayalalithaa would participate in the first joint rally of the Third Front constituents, which would be held in Tumkur on March 12, Gowda said her support and cooperation is with the alliance and she has been requested to attend the rally.

Denying that there were differences with the Left parties, the JD-S chief said, "All our constituents have their own geographical strengths and therefore they have the capability to win in states like Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal, which we are targeting".

He said the failures of the National Democratic Alliance and United Progressive Alliance governments in the last 10 years would be raised by the Front during its campaign.

When asked as to how many seats the JD-S will contest at the national level on its own, Gowda said, "We have our own planning on this aspect which I would not like to reveal as of now."