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PMK founder meets Karunanidhi; first meeting in two years
In their first meeting since 2008, Pattali Makkal Katchi Founder S Ramadoss today met Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi in Chennai to discuss the demand for caste enumeration in the state.
In their first meeting since 2008, Pattali Makkal Katchi Founder S Ramadoss on Wednesday met Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi in Chennai to discuss the demand for caste enumeration in the state.
The meeting, held at the state Secretariat, lasted more than 30 minutes during which the PMK leader submitted a resolution adopted at a meeting of 27 leaders belonging to various communities here on September 18, in support of their demand for caste-wise enumeration in the state.
Ramadoss told reporters that he had asked Karunanidhi, who is also the DMK President, to initiate caste-wise enumeration before this December ahead of the Centre's exercise next year to protect the existing 69 per cent quota in education and employment in the state.
Asked whether there were talks on poll alliance, Ramadoss said, "I came only to give the resolution. There was no political dialogue".
There is speculation in political circles that the PMK would use this opportunity to revive its ties with the DMK ahead of the assembly elections due next year.
This is the first meeting between the two leaders since 2008. In that meeting, Ramadoss urged Karunanidhi to bring in total prohibition of alcohol.
In June 2008, the DMK snapped its ties with the PMK, saying it could not continue its relationship with the party that had spoken about it in derogatory terms.
However, the relationship headed towards a revival during the elections to the Rajya Sabha from Tamil Nadu.
The DMK welcomed the PMK to its fold, but refused to accept its request to re-nominate former Union Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss to the Rajya Sabha.
