Vijaykanth calls on Karuna, to lead delegation to PM

DMDK chief Vijaykanth, an ally of NDA, today said he would lead a delegation of opposition parties to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi tomorrow to raise issues concerning the state after he called on DMK President M Karunanidhi and Congress leaders here.
At the same time, the Leader of the Opposition in Tamil Nadu Assembly took a swipe at Chief Minister O Panneerselvam for ignoring his plea for taking an all-party delegation to meet the Prime Minister over issues concerning the state, including Karnataka's proposal to build checkdam across Cauvery at Mekedatu, and instead meeting Modi alone.
As part of the initiative to rally opposition parties, Vijaykanth called on DMK President M Karunanidhi and Congress leaders, including TNCC chief E V K S Elangovan and former union minister P Chidambaram, here today.

The meeting with Karunanidhi, during which his son and Party Treasurer M K Stalin was also present, assumes significance as Vijaykanth called on the DMK patriarch for the first time in several years. Also it comes after DMK's vocal support to DMDK in the Assembly in the recent session.
Emerging from the meeting with Karunanidhi at his residence here, the actor-turned politician told reporters that the DMK leader has agreed to depute a party representative with him.
"Panneerselvam meeting Prime Minister alone is selfishness. I had requested last week itself that an all party delegation should be taken to (meet) PM Modi. Chief Minister should function with public interest (in mind)" he said.

He said ruling AIADMK had ignored his demand for an all-party meeting to discuss the issues.

"I will be taking all (party leaders) with me when I call on Prime Minister Modi tomorrow at 12.30 PM in Parliament House," he said adding Union Minister of State Pon Radhakrishnan had confirmed the appointment with Modi.
The DMDK leader said he would meet leaders of all opposition parties in Tamil Nadu before his Delhi visit.
On his about 20-minute long meeting with Karunanidhi, Vijayakanth said he disscussed 'important' people's issues.
"Land Bill, fishermen issue, firing on Tamil Nadu woodcutters by Andhra Pradesh police, Mullaiperiyar and Cauvery issues including Mekedatu, were the five important issues that were discussed," he said.

"DMK chief Karunanidhi has said he will send his party representative with me to Delhi to call on PM Modi," he said.
Another top DMDK leader later told PTI the the names of representatives from different parties who will form part of delegation would become known soon.
Later, Vijayakanth called on Elangovan and senior Congress leaders, including Chidambaram, at TNCC headquarters here.
Stalin and Elangovan hit out at ruling AIADMK for not holding consultations with opposition parties on key issues unlike parties in Karnataka which stood united on important issues like Cauvery.