Stalin meets Anbumani, to call on Ramadoss, Swamy

CHENNAI: A week after a bitter verbal duel between them, DMK treasurer MK Stalin called on PMK leader and NDA ally Anbumani Ramadoss at the latter's residence in Chennai on Monday apparently to invite him for a family wedding. Sources in both parties said Stalin would meet senior Ramadoss as well on Tuesday.
A senior DMK leader said Stalin is also likely to meet senior BJP leader Subramanian Swamy to invite him.Swamy has in the past filed criminal cases of corruption against Jayalalithaa and has recently expressed surprise at her acquittal by the Karnataka high court. Stalin had met MDMK leader Vaiko on Sunday.
“Though the PMK senior suggested that the invitation card be given to Anbumani, the DMK leaders wished to personally invite him since he (Dr S Ramadoss) invited Kalaignar (M Karunanidhi) and other leaders to his family weddings. Stalin and Thamizharasu would meet Ramadoss for the first time at his Thailapuram residence in Villupuram district,” the DMK leader told TOI.
Earlier in the day, Stalin handed over the wedding invitation of his brother M K Thamizharasu’s son to Anbumani. Later, both Stalin and Anbumani in separate statements to media, said they did not discuss politics and it was a personal meeting. Stalin, however, said that opposition parties were coming together on a single platform against the ruling AIADMK.
Stalin had a brief meeting with PMK leaders including Anbumani, GK Mani and AK Moorthy. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Stalin said PMK founder S Ramadoss had invited his father Karunanidhi in person for a wedding in his family, while Anbumani had extended an invitation to him in person. “That is the culture. Continuing with the same culture, I invited him in person to a family wedding,” he said.
The meeting of the two heir apparents of their respective parties comes in the backdrop of a strong war of words. In an open letter to Stalin recently, Anbumani had charged DMK with being equally responsible for leaving the state in a “mess” as M Karunanidhi had five terms as chief minister.
Stalin said there was anti-incumbency mood in the state and the political situation was changing. However, announcements on alliances can only be made closer to elections. Asked if his party will field a candidate for the Radhakrishnan Nagar constituency, from where AIADMK's P Vetrivel resigned, most probably to clear the decks for AIADMK leader Jayalalithaa to contest, Stalin said it will be decided after by-poll dates are announced.