Stalin meets Anbumani Ramadoss

Notwithstanding a recent war of words, DMK Treasurer M K Stalin and PMK Youth Wing Leader Anbumani Ramadoss today had a brief meeting here.
Stalin met Ramadoss here to invite him for a family wedding and insisted that the two did not discuss politics.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Stalin said PMK founder S Ramadoss had invited DMK chief M Karunanidhi in person for a wedding in his family while Anbumani had extended the invitation to him in person.
"That is the culture. Continuing with the same culture, I invited (Ramadoss) in person for a family wedding," he said.

The meeting of the two leaders, both seen as heir apparents to their fathers and respective party leaders, comes in the backdrop of a strong war of words between the two parties over leaving Tamil Nadu in a "mess."
In an open letter to Stalin recently, Ramadoss had accused DMK of playing an equal role along with ruling AIADMK of leaving the state in a "mess" with party president M Karunanidhi ruling the state as Chief Minister for five times.

He had criticised the party on issues including power and prohibition.
DMK had shot back through former Dharmapuri MP Thamaraiselvan who had pointed out to Ramadoss, the present MP of the constituency, that his father had promised that PMK's first family will never contest elections or opt for posts.

He had also asked what were Anbumani's achievements as a former Health Minister or MP.
Karunanidhi and Stalin had attended a wedding in Ramadoss' family last year, sparking off speculations of a political reunion ahead of Assembly elections due next year.
However, Anbumani Ramadoss' criticism had put a question mark over alliance between the two parties.
To a question, Stalin said there was a feeling of anti-incumbency among people in the state and that the political situation was changing. He however said announcements on alliances can only be made during elections.
Asked if his party will field a candidate for the Radhakrishnan Nagar constituency, from where AIADMK's P Vetrivel resigned, Stalin said it will be decided after bypoll dates were announced.

Vetrivel's resignation was seen as a move to enable election of party chief J Jayalalitha to the assembly through a by-election to fulfil the requirement that she becomes an MLA within six months of assuming charge as Chief Minister, which she is likely to do in the coming days following her acquittal in a grafts case.