Stalin stays cold to KCR's plans

DMK chief MK Stalin said that he "doesn't see a chance" for a Third Front, in a setback for Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao who has been exploring the possibility of a non-BJP, non-Congress arrangement at the centre after the national elections. Stalin called the meeting with KCR as a "courtesy call" and denied any discussions about the alliances. The DMK chief has maintained that he is committed to the alliance with the Congress and has twice suggested the name of Rahul Gandhi for the post of prime minister in the last few months. KCR, who has been at the forefront of "Third Front" moves over the past year, has made a fresh push to rally regional parties in recent weeks, in an attempt to create a powerful bloc that could play a critical role in government formation in case of a split verdict. However, sources say that KCR's perceived closeness to the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi "has dented his credibility" among regional parties.