DMK reaches out to MDMK leader Vaiko

DMK president Karunanidhi described his firebrand former colleague as a long-time friend

A political realignment seems to be on the cards in Tamil Nadu, with DMK reaching out to its former leader and MDMK founder Vaiko and DMK president M Karunanidhi describing his firebrand former colleague as a long-time friend.

"We are not enemies. We are long-time friends," he told reporters here when asked if he would meet Vaiko in the wake of the latter's meeting DMK Treasurer M K Stalin at the wedding reception of PMK founder Dr S Ramadoss' granddaughter last evening.

Asked if he favoured a bigger alliance involving PMK and MDMK, Karunanidhi said that the matter would be discussed in his party's decision-making bodies, Executive and General Council, but welcomed such a proposal.

The swift developments come in the wake of Stalin's reported statements that he did not view Vaiko, who had fallen out of favour with Karunanidhi in 1991 before founding MDMK, as a rival.

The two leaders had met at Ramadoss' family wedding reception last evening, which Vaiko described as an example of political culture, but declined to make any other remarks.

Stalin had indicated that no political discussion had taken place.

In his recent party conference also, Vaiko had spared DMK of any criticism, triggering speculations that the two parties were cosying up.

Stalin, who had led the DMK's charge in this year's Lok Sabha polls, though unsuccessfully, plans to stitch up a mega alliance involving all opposition parties for the 2016 Assembly elections to face the ruling AIADMK, which has a strong majority in the 234-member Tamil Nadu Assembly.

He had however made it clear that Karunanidhi will be the DMK's Chief Ministerial candidate.