CHENNAI: Marking a healthy change in Tamil Nadu politics, which is beset with personal rivalry, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday met ailing DMK chief M Karunanidhi, a staunch ally of the Congress, at his Gopalapuram residence here to enquire about his health. The meeting, termed a “courtesy call”, is bound to set off intense political speculation about the parties coming together as both sides displayed great warmth during the 20 minutes that Modi spent with Karunanidhi.
However, in an attempt to clarify that the meeting has nothing to do with politics, the DMK announced that its cadre should wear black bands on Wednesday as planned earlier to mark the first anniversary of demonetisation, a pet policy of Modi. Modi also met Dayalau Ammal, the ailing wife of the DMK chief, and the meeting with the DMK chief symbolises healthy relations even among bitter political rivals. DMK Working President MK Stalin, who returned from Sharjah on Monday morning, welcomed Modi outside the residence along with Kanimozhi and took him inside the bungalow. “Appa, Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi has come to meet you”, Stalin told Karunanidhi, who gestured at Modi and later welcomed him with a smile.
After enquiring about Karunanidhi's health from Stalin and Kanimozhi, Modi also offered to host the ailing leader at his spacious 7, Lok Kalyan Marg residence for “rest.” The icing on the cake was the warmth that Modi, Stalin and Kanimozhi displayed during the meeting as they happily posed for pictures while sharing lighter moments. A few political observers termed the timing of the meeting as significant since a Delhi CBI court is expected to announce the verdict date in the 2G-spectrum case on Tuesday, but both DMK and BJP scotched speculation of any political significance. The DMK parted ways with BJP in December 2003 after being part of the NDA Government led by A B Vajpayee since 1998.
Both Modi and Stalin took to social media to post pictures of the meeting and stressed that it happened just out of courtesy since Karunanidhi has been ailing for over a year. “The meeting has nothing to do with politics. Prime Minister came to enquire about Thalaivar's (Karunanidhi's) health,” Kanimozhi told reporters. DMK spokesperson and Rajya Sabha MP T K S Elangovan told DC that Modi had always held Karunanidhi in high esteem. “When he was a BJP leader and later as Gujarat Chief Minister, Modi used to meet Karunanidhi at public events in New Delhi. He always held him in high esteem and the meeting should be seen in that context. Our leader has friends across the political spectrum and today's meeting is a testimony to that,” he said.
