Telangana CM meets Karuna, holds talks with Stalin

Telangana chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, on a mission to form a non-BJP non-Congress alternative, today met DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi and its working president M K Stalin here.

Rao, who held discussions with Stalin on a wide range of issues, including more autonomy to states, described the meeting as "very delightful".

He said his ongoing effort was not aimed at some kind of a 'third front'.It was not a mere alignment of political parties but "that of the people" of the country, the Telangana Rashtra Samithi supremo told reporters in a joint press meet with Stalin.

Rao parried a question on whether he was projecting West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, whom he had recently met, as the Prime Ministerial candidate in the 2019 elections.

The efforts were aimed at the country's betterment, better economy and better opportunities for the youth, he said.

"We have not proposed any third, fourth or fifth front, this so called front is created by media. We have never announced a third front...it is not a mere alignment of political parties but an alignment of people of India, the masses and unemployed youth of India," he said.

Earlier, Rao met Karunanidhi at the latter's Gopalapuram residence where he was received by Stalin.

Praising 93-year old Karunanidhi as "one of the tallest leaders" of the country, he recalled their association in UPA I.

He expressed joy that Karunanidhi, since confined indoors due to health reasons, responded to his 'Vanakkam,' the traditional Tamil salutation.

The Telangana chief minister has recently met Banerjee and former prime minister H D Deve Gowda as part of his move to form an alternative.

A resolution at the TRS Plenary on April 27 had authorised Rao to take appropriate decisions on forming the alternative to BJP and Congress.

Stalin, son of Karunanidhi and Leader of the Opposition in Tamil Nadu Assembly, hosted a lunch for Rao at his residence where the two had a lengthy discussion on issues, including federalism and devolution of funds to states.

Rao said the meeting was "very delightful...We discussed so many things. Things which have been happening for the last seven decades in the country."