The Hindu : Front Page : Pranab meets Karunanidhi

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Thursday, May 21, 2009
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Pranab meets Karunanidhi

Special Correspondent

New Delhi: Senior Congress leader and External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee met Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK president M. Karunanidhi here on Wednesday to discuss government formation and allocation of portfolios.

Mr. Mukherjee was accompanied by Congress general secretary in-charge of Tamil Nadu Ghulam Nabi Azad, and the political secretary to Congress president Sonia Gandhi, Ahmed Patel.

Mr. Karunanidhi’s son M.K. Azhagiri, daughter Kanimozhi, grandnephew Dayanidhi Maran and DMK leaders T.R. Baalu and Arcot Veerasamy were among those who participated in the talks at the Tamil Nadu House. After the 90-minute meeting, Mr. Mukherjee told journalists: “We discussed the mechanism for participation in the government. We shared our views. As this is the first meeting, further discussions will be required.” He thus indicated that there was stalemate in the allotment of number of berths in the Union Cabinet.

Sri Lankan issue

In the morning, National Security Adviser M.K. Narayanan and Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon met the Chief Minister at the residence of Ms. Kanimozhi and discussed the Sri Lankan issue.

Later talking to journalists, Mr. Karunanidhi said: “Mr. Narayanan’s meeting with me is a follow-up of the discussions I had with the Prime Minister and Ms. Gandhi on Tuesday.”

Asked about the quantum of relief to be provided to Tamils in Sri Lanka, the DMK chief said the Prime Minister had assured them that whatever amount was required for relief and rehabilitation would be provided. Mr. Narayanan would brief him on the Sri Lanka situation on his return from the island nation.

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