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Karunanidhi, Maran discuss fluid political situation

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam president M Karunanidhi today held discussions with party parliamentary group leader Murasoli Maran on the present political situation at the Centre in the wake of the AIADMK's imminent withdrawal of support to the BJP-led government.

Maran, who had been camping in Delhi for the last couple of days, arrived in Madras last night. He is believed to have apprised the chief minister about the present political situation at the Centre and the options open to the party .

Karunanidhi, however, maintained that the party had not taken any decision on what it should do in the event of a trail of strength in the Lok Sabha to decide the fate of the Vajpayee government or formation of an alternative government.

"As I told you already, the party's executive or general council alone can take a decision after discussing the issue", he said in a brief chat with newsmen in the state assembly lobby.

The chief minister said he had no immediate plans to visit Delhi. Karunanidhi had also cancelled his trip to Vaikom, in Kerala, on Sunday, official sources said.

Karunanidhi, who was present in the house during the question hour, retired to his chamber soon after and held discussions with Maran for more than an hour.

In his absence, Law Minister Aladi Aruna moved the demand for grants for general tax and other taxes and duties.

Karunanidhi who returned to the house at the fag end of the day's proceedings, indicated that he was in a hurry. He said Aruna would reply to the debate on his behalf and left the house for his residence.

Senior minister Arcot N Veerasamy, who had been to Delhi yesterday to attend the state health ministers' conference, also returned to the Tamil Nadu capital last night.

Veerasamy's visit, against the backdrop of the present political situation, nevertheless assumes significance.

UNI

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