4 CMs to attend Left-sponsored meet

At least four chief ministers will attend a Left-sponsored anti-communalism convention in Delhi on October 30. 

They are Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar and Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio. Pre-occupied with affairs in their home states, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalitha and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik will not be attending the convention. 

However, representatives of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) and Biju Janata Dal (BJD) will be attending the convention, said sources. Senior party leader and MP Thambidurai will represent the AIADMK. 

The convention, which is an attempt to unite non-Congress and non-BJP forces under a single umbrella is being seen as a pre-cursor to the third front.