After a meeting at the Raj Bhavan here on Monday, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi sent out positive signals about the continuance of the alliance between the Congress and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam.
After a 30-minute meeting with Mr. Karunanidhi, Dr. Singh said the alliance “remains strong as ever.”
Mr. Karunanidhi, to a question on the state of the alliance between the two parties, told journalists, “The relationship is as good as it is with you [journalists].”
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Mr. Karunanidhi clarified that he could not meet the Prime Minister on Sunday as he had to keep a commitment to attend a function to release an anthology of poems of Vairamuthu. “The function was delayed. I could not meet [the Prime Minister]. I met [him] today [Monday],” he said dismissing speculation that he chose not to meet Dr. Singh for political reasons.
Asked if the government felt disappointed that Dr. Singh was not inaugurating the eco-park, Adyar Poonga, as scheduled, Mr. Karunanidhi said he was not disappointed as there were valid reasons for deferring the inauguration. (The Adyar Poonga is yet to get clearance from the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests.)
An official release said the Chief Minister could not welcome Dr. Singh on Sunday evening as the lighting at the book release function caused irritation in his eyes. On Monday morning, Mr. Karunanidhi took treatment at Agarwal's Eye Hospital and drove straight to the Raj Bhavan.
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Dr. Singh held discussions with Mr. Karunanidhi for half-an-hour and saw him off by going up to his car. Answering queries, Mr. Karunanidhi said he held discussions on the flood situation in the State and requested the Centre to immediately grant relief as the forecast was for more rain.