Vijayakanth said he would lead a delegation of opposition leaders to meet Modi in New Delhi
BJP state president D. Tamilisai Soundararajan presents a shawl to ally and DMDK founder Vijayakanth, when the latter called on her at Kamalalayam, BJP state headquarters, in the city on Sunday (Photo: DC)
Chennai: In what could be seen as the first step towards Opposition consolidation in the state, DMDK chief Vijayakanth on Sunday took out a yatra of sorts to meet Opposition leaders, including DMK president M. Karunanidhi, seeking their support to lead a delegation to call on Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday to raise issues concerning the state.
Attacking Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam for not taking an all-party delegation to meet the Prime Minister on Saturday, Mr Vijayakanth said he would lead a delegation of opposition leaders to meet Modi in New Delhi to raise the issues concerning the state, including Mekedattu and Mullaiperiyar dam issues, land acquisition bill, the killing of 20 woodcutters from Tamil Nadu by the Andhra Pradesh police and frequent attacks on the state’s fishermen by the Sri Lankan navy.
The meeting with Karunanidhi gains significance as Vijayakanth called on the DMK patriarch for the first time after he floated his party in 2005. After meeting Karunanidhi in his Gopalapuram residence, Vijayakanth proceeded to Sathyamurthy Bhavan to meet TNCC president E.V.K.S. Elangovan and former Union minister and senior Congress leader P. Chidambaram. During his visit to Kamalalayam, the BJP headquarters in Chennai, he met party state president, Dr Tamilisai Soundararajan.
He also called on TMC leader G.K. Vasan, VCK president Thol Thirumavalavan and MDMK general secretary Vaiko. After his meeting with Karunanidhi, the actor-turned-politician told reporters that the DMK chief has agreed to work together on issues concerning the people and also to depute his party representatives. DMK treasurer M.K. Stalin, who was present at the meeting, said Karunanidhi appreciated the efforts taken by Vijayakanth on the issue concerning the people.
He said his party’s Rajya Sabha MPs Kanimozhi and Tiruchi N. Siva, would be part of the delegation to meet the Prime minister. When asked about whether the coordination of Opposition parties would emerge as an electoral alliance, Stalin said his party was always open to work with other parties on issues concerning the people but alliance was not discussed at the meeting. “Left party leaders (CPI-M and CPI) are away for party meetings and they have said that they too will be deputing their representatives,” Vijayakanth said.
( Source : dc correspondent )
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