In his first meeting after Union textile minister Dayanidhi Maran?s resignation, Union finance minister and Congress president?s emissary, Pranab Mukherjee, on Saturday is learnt to have tried to impress upon Dravida Munnetra Kazhakam (DMK) supremo Muthevel Karunanidhi the inevitability of the situation that culminated in the exit of Maran, as well as the arrest of A Raja and Kanimozhi, following the CBI chargesheet in the 2G scam.
In a bid to pacify the beleaguered DMK patriarch, Mukherjee is understood to have reiterated the Congress stand that the party has no role in the 2G scam probe, which eventually led to the arrest of key DMK leaders like Raja and Kanimozhi.
Besides, both the leaders are reported to have discussed the ensuing union Cabinet reshuffle and likely replacements from DMK in place of the ministers who have resigned.
?This is my first visit to Chennai after the state assembly election,? Mukherjee said after coming out of the hour-long meeting with Karunanidhi.
Immediately after the resignation of Dayanidhi Maran on Thursday, Karunanidhi blamed the media, saying ?they rule the roost in the entire world and in India and they can defame anyone, Maran was not an exception?.
When asked about the meeting, Mukherjee said, ?I called on the leader to explain the current political situation.?
He added, ?There has been a lot of speculation about the alliance between the DMK and the Congress. My submission would be the alliance is there. The alliance will continue and will be strengthened.?