Prime Minister Modi was received by top DMK leaders MK Stalin and MK Kanimozhi as he arrived at the Chennai home of party leader M Karunanidhi.
PM Modi was in Chennai to attend several functions, including a local newspaper’s celebration of 75 years. His visit to Mr Karunanidhi’s Gopalapuram home was announced at the last minute.
The DMK is an ally of the Congress in Tamil Nadu and has been a steady member of a group of 18 opposition parties that have taken on the BJP in Parliament and outside over several issues at the national level national. PM Modi’s BJP sees Tamil Nadu’s ruling AIADMK as a natural ally, and DMK sources said there was no political signal in today’s meeting.
Mr Karunanidhi, 93, is recovering from a long illness and recently made his first public appearance in months at an exhibition.