The comments by Singh and the DMK chief dismissing any speculation of a rift between the two parties came a day after Karunanidhi chose to skip a meeting with the prime minister in Chennai which was perceived as a snub.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Tamil Nadu chief minister M Karunanidhi today said Congress-Dravida Munnettra Kazhagam (DMK) alliance was "strong", seeking to clear the air on the ties between the two UPA allies amid signs of strain against the backdrop of the second generation mobile telephony spectrum scam.
The comments by Singh and the DMK chief dismissing any speculation of a rift between the two parties came a day after Karunanidhi chose to skip a meeting with the prime minister in Chennai which was perceived as a snub. Karunanidhi was also not present at the airport to receive Singh.
The meeting this morning was the first between the two leaders since A Raja, a DMK representative in the UPA cabinet, resigned on November 14 as telecom minister in the wake of the 2G mobile spectrum allocation scam.
"Well, the alliance remains as strong as ever," Singh told reporters when asked for his assessment on relations between the Congress and the DMK shortly after their 30-minute meeting at the Raj Bhavan.
Singh said he discussed with Karunanidhi the flood situation in Tamil Nadu, the Adyar Park environmental clearance and the relations between the UPA allies.
Karunanidhi said the relations between the two parties were "strong".
"It is as strong as the ties between you (media) and me," he told reporters separately after meeting Singh.
Asked whether the 2G mobile spectrum scam had affected the ties, he replied in the negative.
Karunanidhi, who was scheduled to meet Singh last night, could not do so as he was 'pre-occupied' in a meeting to release a volume of poems of his friend, noted Tamil lyricist Vairamuthu.
He said this morning that his scheduled meeting last night did not take place as many speakers addressed the function.
Asked whether he was upset over the environment ministry not clearing the state government's eco-park in Adyar in the city, scheduled to be inaugurated by Singh but cancelled at the last minute, Karunanidhi said, "No".
During the meeting, Karunanidhi submitted a detailed memorandum to Singh on the damage caused by the rains last month in several districts of the state. He said he had requested the prime minister to quickly sanction funds for relief and rehabilitation.
Singh reached Chennai last night.
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