Akhilesh Yadav calls on new pal Jayalalithaa in surprise meeting

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Chennai: Raising speculation about the formation of a third front for the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Singh Yadav on Monday made a surprise call on his Tamil Nadu counterpart and senior political leader J. Jayalalithaa.
The sudden meeting at the TN Secretariat here that was finalised only on Sunday night gains importance in the light of Jayalalithaa’s open criticism of the BJP for not helping Tamil Nadu’s cause in getting its due share of water from the BJP-governed Karnataka and her allegation that the Centre stifled the Opposition-ruled states.
The SP leader held discussions with the AIADMK supremo at Fort St George for 23 minutes. Despite his promise in the morning that he would brief the media on their meeting, Yadav did not utter a word after the meeting. Jayalalithaa, who left within a few minutes, also did not speak to the media.
Sources said they had discussed the Centre’s “adamant” and “non-friendly” attitude towards non-Congress Chief Ministers. This could, perhaps, bring them under one umbrella in the run-up to the general polls.
Sources said Yadav had conveyed on Sunday night his keenness to meet Jayalalithaa ahead of his scheduled participation at a function organised by Pattali Makkal Katchi in the city on Monday.
Akhilesh raises strong pitch for third front
Blaming the Congress and the BJP for failing to fulfil their promises, UP CM and Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav on Monday said that his party believes there should be a third front in the country. Blaming the Congress and the BJP for failing to fulfill their promises, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav on Monday said that his party believes that there should be a third front in the country.
“Yes. There should be a third force. Samajwadi Party believes that there should be a third front at the national level. Congress and BJP have not fulfilled their promises and their policies are not propoor,” he told reporters here.
He was speaking after inaugurating the PMK’s youth cultural festival. The event was presided over by PMK youth wing leader Anbumani in the presence of his father and party founder Dr S. Ramadoss.
Asked whether his party would pull out of the UPA government, the Uttar Pradesh CM said, “There are good and there are bad (in relations between Samajwadi Party and Congress). We are with the government. We are cooperating with the government. But government is not cooperating with us.
My father (Mulayam Singh Yadav) will take a call.” Referring to industry bodies CII and FICCI holding conferences attended by Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi and Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, he said, “FICCI and CII have chosen their Prime Ministerial candidates. But it is for the poor and backward sections who will elect the PM.”