Congress may join with Third Front, hints Prithviraj Chavan

Hinting at the possible post-poll strategy of his party, Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan on Friday said the chances of Narendra Modi becoming the prime minister were slim, and the Congress could form the next government by joining hands with "the Third Front".

"I don't see any great possibility of Narendra Modi becoming the prime minister. Even if he gets more seats than us, he would not get support of the regional parties," Chavan said at a press conference in Mumbai.

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"As the other alternative, the Congress and Third Front can form the government. We will try to form a secular government," he added.

Asked about increase in voter turnout in the third and the final phase of elections in the state on Thursday, he said, "There is a natural phenomenon that the first-time voters have the tendency to vote against the establishment. There is impatience among the youth. However, I don't see any Modi wave."

The senior Congress leader, who has stoked a controversy by stating in a newspaper interview that regional parties should not be allowed to contest the Lok Sabha elections, said his only rationale was it could bring a stable government. "It (allowing regional parties to contest Lok Sabha polls) is likely to create a political instability. It is something to discuss. Neither I nor the Congress alone can do it (ban regional parties from contesting polls)," he said.

"A constitutional amendment will have to made in this regard. All political parties will have to be consulted. Without their support it cannot be done."

The Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party, an alliance partner of Congress in the state, has opposed Chavan's stand.

Image: Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan