A day when the Election Commission of India announced the election dates for the assembly polls in five crucial states- Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam, West Bengal, and Puducherry, the state of Tamil Nadu had witnessed the developments of what could possibly be a birth of the third front in the elections and the surprising moves had implied the state that the third front like the 2016 polls will be on the ballots in the upcoming elections. 

On Friday, Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora had announced the election dates for the five states, and Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Puducherry will go for the single-phase election on April 6 and the votes will be counted on May 2 after which the winner will be declared. As the announcement has imposed the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) and prompted the political parties to expedite the alliance and seat-sharing among the parties, some of the political parties in Tamil Nadu have now written the prefix for the third front. 

Hours after the announcement of the election date, actor turned politician Sarathkumar, who is the Chief of Samathuva Makkal Katchi (SMK), had quitted from the ADMK alliance on Friday and met the leader of Indiya Jananayaga Katchi (IJK) in his rival faction. IJK was observing an alliance with DMK and after its leader Ravi Pachamuthu had a meet with Sarathkumar, IJK had on Friday said that it had quit the DMK alliance. The events had drawn massive attention across and beyond over the speculations of forming the third front against ADMK and DMK. 

After meeting IJK's Ravi Pachamuthu, Sarathkumar had released a statement in which he said, "I am happy to announce that Samathuva Makkal Katchi and Indhiya Jananayaga Katchi will jointly contest in the 2021 assembly polls as the first coalition towards bringing change. This coalition will work towards bringing the change in Tamil Nadu, enhancing the livelihoods of Tamil people, and improving the state". 

"We believe that this coalition, which is formed by prioritizing people's welfare, will set a foundation as the successful coalition for the development of the people", Sarathkumar added. On Friday evening, Sarathkumar and Ravi Pachamuthu had addressed the reporters during which they said that they will announce the name of the coalition soon. The meet had stirred anticipations and debates over the list of possible parties that may join the coalition like in the 2016 assembly polls. 

Giving more surprise to the state and the political leaders, Sarathkumar had on Saturday met Kamal Haasan at Makkal Needhi Maiam party office in Chennai. Sarathkumar was accompanied by the IJK leader and the trio had a discussion about the formation of the third front. The meeting had lasted nearly 20 minutes during which Sarathkumar had called Kamal Haasan to join in the third front for the assembly polls. In what has become an unanticipated drama, Kamal Haasan has been surfaced with the expectation to arm the third front. 

While addressing the reporters after meeting Kamal Haasan, Sarathkumar said, "I spoke with Kamal Haasan as it will be better that the good people unite. A good decision will come from Kamal Haasan on joining the third front. We (Samathuva Makkal Katchi) were observing ties with ADMK, but the ruling party had failed to conduct the meeting for the alliance. If this coalition (third front) is confirmed, we will work towards victory and the Chief Ministerial candidate will be decided later". Sarathkumar signaled that he is expecting Kamal Haasan to join the third front for the assembly polls.

According to reports, Kamal Haasan hadn't given assurance in joining the third front and the actor turned politician had on Saturday addressed the reporters during which he said that veteran politician Pazha. Karuppaiah has joined Makkal Needhi Maiam and he will contest in the upcoming polls and social organization 'Satta Panchayat Iyyakkam' has also joined Makkal Needhi Maiam. 

The possibilities of the third front were on the cards in the state and the recent developments have invited a strong significance over the rise of the third front. It has been expected that Tamil Nadu will face four to five fronts in the upcoming polls - ADMK and its alliance, DMK and its alliance, Sarathkumar and Kamal Hassan, Sasikala's AMMK, and Seeman's Naam Tamilar party. It must be noted that in 2016, Tamil Nadu had a similar third front - Makkal Nala Kootani (People's Welfare Alliance). 

People's Welfare Alliance was formed under the leadership of DMDK's Founder Vijayakanth and it consisted of Vaiko (MDMK), Mutharasan (CPI), Ramakrishnan (CPI(M)), GK Vasan (TMC), and Thol. Thirumalavan (VCK). However, the alliance had failed to deliver a potential show as it has lost the polls with no seats on its banks. ADMK had registered a landslide victory in 2016 under the leadership of Jayalalithaa and as the 2021 polls would be the first state election since the demise of Karunanidhi and Jayalalithaa, the political observers say that the third front may have its say this time in the wake of the lack of a popular leader in both Dravidian parties.