Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi with Congress president Sonia Gandhi in New Delhi on Monday. — Photo: R. V. Moorthy

NEW DELHI: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi on Monday ruled out a coalition government in the State, saying the present arrangement of the Congress supporting the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam from outside was part of a pre-election understanding, and a reciprocal accord in Pondicherry.

Talking to reporters during his first visit here after assuming office, Mr. Karunanidhi said, "In Pondicherry, the DMK will extend an unconditional support to the Congress, and in Tamil Nadu, the Congress will extend support. It was agreed upon even before the Assembly elections." (The DMK, with 95 MLAs in the 234-member Assembly, depends on the support of the 34 Congress members.)

Although regional Congress leaders wanted the party high command to discuss power sharing with the DMK, the issue did not figure during the meeting Mr. Karunanidhi had with Congress president Sonia Gandhi, his first official engagement of the day.

Mr. Karunanidhi did not agree with a correspondent who described his government as a minority one. Asked about its e longevity, he said his concern was to serve the State people.

On the status of the MDMK in the United Progressive Alliance, the Chief Minister said the party was not part of the alliance.

Union Minister Dayanidhi Maran, who was also present during the meeting with Ms. Gandhi, said the writing on the wall was clear and it was there for the people to read. The current alliance would continue during the local bodies' elections later this year.

The Chief Minister said only developmental issues concerning the State were discussed in detail during his talks with Ms. Gandhi. She had accepted his invitation to be at the foundation stone-laying function of the Rajiv Gandhi aviation training institute at Sriperumbudur.

Mr. Karunanidhi handed over a letter to Ms. Gandhi underlining the "sense of immense expectation and urgency among the people of Tamil Nadu, to fulfil the various promises made in the election manifesto at the earliest." While in the last two years, the nation marched ahead under the United Progressive Alliance Government "our State has missed out valuable opportunities" offered by the Union Government due to the strain in the relationship between the Governments at the State and the Centre.

"Now that the cordial relationship has been restored, you would agree that the time has come for the State and the Central Governments to join hands to take Tamil Nadu forward," he said.

After meeting Ms. Gandhi, Mr. Karunanidhi called on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and presented a memorandum. He received the Communist Party of India general secretary A.B. Bardhan and its national secretary D. Raja.

Later, in the evening he called on President Abdul Kalam.

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