By IANS,
Hyderabad : Samajwadi Party general secretaries Amar Singh and Sanjay Dutt have met actor-politician Chiranjeevi to seek his “friendship” and discuss the formation of a fourth front after the elections.
Amar Singh and Dutt met the Praja Rajyam Party (PRP) chief at his residence here late Monday.
“We are seeking Chiranjeevi’s friendship keeping in mind the possible formation of the fourth front,” Amar Singh told reporters after the 90-minute meeting.
Amar Singh said he discussed with Chiranjeevi how this proposed front — comprising parties other than the Congress, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and some constituents of the third front — could become a reality.
According to the Samajwadi Party leader, Lalu Prasad’s Rashtriya Janata Dal and Ram Vilas Paswan’s Lok Janashakti Party could also join the front. He did not rule out Left parties joining in.
Chiranjeevi recalled his friendship with Amar Singh and Samajwadi Party leader and actor Jaya Prada.
“I am happy that my wish for the fourth front is materialising,” said Chiranjeevi, who was the first to moot the idea a few days ago.
Chiranjeevi, whose party is contesting all 42 Lok Sabha and 294 assembly seats in the state, is keen on a fourth front as he does not want to join the third front that includes his rival Telugu Desam Party (TDP).
The Samajwadi Party is also against joining the third front because of the presence of its rival Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP).
National Congress Party (NCP) leader Sharad Pawar contacted Chiranjeevi recently and discussed the possibilities of a political realignment after the April-May elections.
Amar Singh and Sanjay Dutt earlier made a surprise visit to Vijayawada to back the candidature of PRP’s Chanumolu Rajeev, who faces Congress nominee L. Rajagopal, an industrialist who has declared assets of Rs.2.99 billion, the highest in the state.