Did not discuss alliance with Karunanidhi: Azad

Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad Thursday said he did not discuss an electoral alliance with DMK president M.Karunanidhi in their meeting here.

"This is a courtesy call. There was no discussion about alliance," the senior Congress leader told reporters after the meeting at the DMK leader's residence.

Azad said alliance matters would be planned only when the elections are near.

This is the first time that Azad is meeting Karunanidhi after DMK exited the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government last year, expressing dissatisfaction at the manner in which the central government was handling the Sri Lankan Tamils issue.

Further at the DMK's general council meeting last month, Karunanidhi had categorically said that his party will not align with Congress in the ensuing Lok Sabha polls.