The expected round of talks between the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and the Congress did not materialise on Thursday, but leaders of the parties were engaged in internal discussions.
There were reports of the two sides narrowing down their differences and inching closer to signing a deal. A senior DMK leader said the situation was yet to acquire clarity.
In the morning, Congress general secretary and Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, who held talks with the DMK president M. Karunanidhi at the Anna Arivalayam here for nearly 90 minutes on Wednesday night, left for New Delhi without meeting the DMK leader. After holding the discussion with Mr.Azad, Mr. Karunanidhi had told reporters that there would be one more round of talks the next day but that did not take place.
At the Chennai airport, Mr. Azad told reporters that he would convey the import of his discussions with the DMK leader to his party high command.
In New Delhi, the Congress leader met members of the party committee, while the DMK president was engaged in deep deliberations with senior members. While the DMK is willing to increase its offer to 58 seats, the Congress is not ready to accept anything less than 60 seats.
Earlier in the day, DMK general secretary and Finance Minister K. Anbazhagan announced that the party's high-level committee would meet on Saturday to discuss the preparation of its manifesto.
