DMK leader M. Karunanidhi on Thursday said he would be happy if the meeting between party treasurer M.K. Stalin and MDMK general secretary Vaiko was the beginning of the formation of an alliance in the State for the 2016 Assembly election.
Mr. Stalin met Mr. Vaiko at the reception of former Union Minister Anbumani Ramadoss’s daughter Samyukta at Mahabalipuram on Wednesday.
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Mr. Karunanidhi, who attended the marriage on Thursday, said he would happily welcome if a new alliance was formed and the DMK’s general council and executive council approved the same. Besides Mr. Vakio, senior BJP leaders including Union Minister Pon. Radhakrishnan and L. Ganesan attended the wedding.
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Mr. Karunanidhi said he was also ready to meet Mr. Vaiko, as he and the MDMK leader were long-time friends. “We are not enemies,” he added.
Asked about PMK founder S. Ramadoss’s remarks about how he had cherished the DMK chief’s friendship, Mr. Karunanidhi said he was filled with happiness.
To a question whether these meetings could be construed as a prelude to an alliance since elections are 18 months away, Mr. Karunanidhi said, “You can come to your own conclusion.”
“I am happy with the developments,” he said.
Earlier, addressing the gathering at the marriage, Mr. Karunanidhi said the mutual love and affection he and Dr. Ramadoss had for each other remained unaffected by differences of opinion and fissures.
“That was why I asked Mr. Stalin to attend the reception on Wednesday, as I am not doing well for the last couple of days,” he said.
Mr. Karunanidhi also expressed happiness over the marriage that followed the tradition of self-respect espoused by Dravidian Movement founder Periyar and DMK founder C.N. Annadurai.