Signs of the Third Front falling apart became more visible on Tuesday with the Samajwadi Party dismissing suggestions from the Jayalalithaa-led All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam to severe links with the Left parties.
"We have a consistent, old and unbreakable relationship with the Left parties, especially the Communist Party of India-Marxist. Prakash Karat had stood by us when there were moves to impose President's rule in UP," party general secretary Amar Singh told media persons, adding that his party 'cannot be ungrateful.'
His comment came a day after V Maitrayan, leader of the AIADMK in Rajya Sabha, took exception to the Samajwadi Party participating in rallies and demonstrations of the Left parties, which are opposed to his party in Tamil Nadu.
Maintaining that a non-Congress, non-BJP alliance of third parties could not be formed without the support of the Left parties, Singh said the Marxist party and their other allies 'do not impose stringent conditions on us' like not to talk to Jayalalithaa.
"Ask Jayalalithaa," was his remark when asked whether the Third Front, formally known as the United National Progressive Alliance, existed or not.
His remark appeared to be a dig at the AIADMK supremo for her statement earlier in the week wondering whether the UNPA existed at all and whether her party was part of it.
To Maitreyan's charge that he was playing 'dirty games' by accusing that the AIADMK leader was not available despite having her cell phone number, he said it was a 'case of sheer communication gap.'