Chennai: Seeking to dispel speculation of
political realignment in Tamil Nadu, Prime Minister Manmohan
Singh and Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Saturday showered
praise on DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi, describing him as a
"pillar of strength" to UPA.
Singh said he turned to Karunanidhi for advice on issues
of national concern while Gandhi said Women's Reservation Bill
could not have been passed in Rajya Sabha without his support.
"I have turned to him often for advice. He has been in our
public life for over half a century. We are truly fortunate
that we can draw on his experience and wisdom in managing the
affairs of our nation," the Prime Minister said inuagurating
the Tamil Nadu Assembly complex, a pet project of Karunanidhi.
Gandhi said "it (passage of Women's Bill) could not have
been possible without his (DMK Karunanidhi's) support."
The Congress President said ever since the inception of
UPA, Singh and she always looked forward to Karunanidhi's
"wise counsel and advice."
Karunanidhi set the tone on the alliance issue when he
praised Gandhi for her "friendship and determination" in
keeping the ties in tact.
The DMK chief spoke of "innumerable efforts" to create
enmity between the two parties and said "our firm resolve
has defied all these endeavours..."
Though Karunanidhi did not name anyone, his remarks
assume significance in the backdrop of AIADMK chief and his
bete noire Jayalalithaa's recent hints that her party was not
averse to a tie-up with Congress, fuelling media speculation
about possible political reconfiguration.
PTI
First Published: Saturday, March 13, 2010, 22:00