The Hindu : National : Third front not possible now, says V.P. Singh

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Sunday, May 22, 2005

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National

Third front not possible now, says V.P. Singh

K.C. Gopakumar

Left's support to UPA, a "solid anchor"

KOCHI: The former Prime Minister, V.P. Singh, on Saturday said he did not favour the formation of a third front for the time being and that the United Progressive Alliance Government should be given a chance to complete its full term.

Participating in a meet-the- press programme organised by the Ernakulam Press Club, Mr. Singh said that if a third front was formed now, the Left parties and the DMK would not cooperate. But, at the same time he added that he did not think that the third front formation would be ``unrealistic.'' He also cautioned that the BJP should not be allowed to hijack the third front by overt or covert means.

Terming the Left's advice to the UPA as the one given by a well wisher, he said the Left's support was ``the solid anchor of the UPA Government.'' In fact, he had earlier pleaded with the CPI (M) to join the UPA Government. According to him, the Congress president, Sonia Gandhi, had conducted in a fair manner while the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had added credibility to the UPA government

`Tainted' ministers issue

As for the `tainted' ministers continuing in the Cabinet, Mr. Singh said a political consensus should be arrived at on removal of such ministers. A law should be enacted after reaching a consensus, failing which every party would accuse another for shielding the charge-sheeted Ministers whenever they were

in power and it would ``become a political game.''

Giving the UPA Government a rating of 6 to 7 on a scale of 10, he said that the UPA Government had done some ``positive things.'' The communal tension had come down after UPA came to power. Besides, the India-China and India-Pakistan ties have improved. As for India-Pakistan relationship, he said that for the first time Pakistan had recognised the need to discuss improving economic ties without insisting on talking over the Kashmir issue. .

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