Despite the Left parties' withdrawal of support to the United Progressive Alliance government, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and Dravida Munnettra Kazhagam President M Karunanidhi on Tuesday said that there is still time left for an amicable solution.
"Even now, there is time for saving the nation's unity, integrity and sovereignty. This is my appeal to all concerned," he told reporters when asked for his comments on the Left parties' withdrawing support to the UPA government.
"The country's unity and integrity is more important than the prestige of political parties," Karunanidhi said.
He said Communist Party of India - Marxist General Secretary Prakash Karat spoke to him today afternoon and informed him about the Left parties' decision to withdraw support to the government. "I told him that let bygones be bygones. Let us not give room for communal forces. Karat told me that he entirely agreed with me," Karunanidhi said.
Regretting that his efforts to iron out differences between Congress and Left parties on the Indo-US nuclear deal could not succeed, he said, "I was very particular that the stability of UPA government should not be hurt at any cost due to the nuclear deal."
"I was concentrating all my efforts on this. Though my efforts looked like they were succeeding, I am sorry that I could not succeed fully', he said.
Left party leaders, including Prakash Karat, had held talks with Karunanidhi last month.
Asked whether the DMK supported Congress or the Left parties, Karunanidhi shot back "Why are you asking this question now? Even now, there is still time for an amicable solution," he said.
The DMK came out in support of the deal last month.