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Rajni, Pranab at Alagiri son's wedding

Union Finance Minister and senior Congress leader Pranab Mukherjee on Thursday indicated that his party's coalition with the Dravida Munnettra Kazhagam would continue for the Tamil Nadu assembly elections due early next year.

 "Our coalition started in 2004 (both in the state and at the Centre). We have completed six and half years. There is no doubt that we will be able to do much more as we work together," Mukherjee said.

Rajni, Pranab at Alagiri son's wedding

The UPA alliance, which has been responsible for socio-economic development of the country in the last six and half years, would continue for the next three and a half years, he said.

Mukherjee was in Madurai to attend the marriage of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK president M Karunanidhi's grandson.

Rajni, Pranab at Alagiri son's wedding

At a glittering function held at the Tamukkam grounds, Dayanidhi Alagiri, son of Union Fertilizer Minister M K Alagiri, got married to Anusha, daughter of a Chennai-based lawyer.

Rajni, Pranab at Alagiri son's wedding

The chief minister conducted Seerthirutha Tirumanam, marriage performed according to one's self-respect, rejecting all traditional rites and rituals.

Mukherjee said in the coming years, the alliance would be able to do much more.

Describing the DMK chief as a "political patriarch of this great country," Mukherjee praised him for his contributions to the country's social and political transformation..

Rajni, Pranab at Alagiri son's wedding

"I have great appreciation and respect for Karunanidhi for leading all of us in this country," he said.

Karunanidhi said the presence of two senior Congress leaders -- Mukherjee and Home Minister P Chidambaram -- and their speeches indicated "how strong and united" the alliance has been between the two parties.

Rajni, Pranab at Alagiri son's wedding

"The presence of Congressmen and DMK men indicated how strong our alliance is," he said.

Karunanidhi said Mukherjee's speech "indicated the strong confidence and hope that this alliance should continue for the prosperity and strength of this nation and Tamil Nadu."

Rajni, Pranab at Alagiri son's wedding

Mukherjee said the very presence of a large number of people -- including actor Rajinikanth and distinguished personalities from different walks of life at the function --and greetings sent by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi says something about Karunanidhi's family and the role it has played in public life.

Image: Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee interacts with Alagiri's mother Dayalu Ammal after blessing the couple. Also sharing the dais (on the right) are Home Minister P Chidambaram, Congress leader K V Thangabalu and Tamil Superstar Rajnikanth. Seated with Karunanidhi is senior DMK leader K Anbazhagan.

Rajni, Pranab at Alagiri son's wedding

"I may not believe in God, but I do not know whether God believed in me and had entrusted in me, among other things, the responsibility of this state. I got everything in my life because of the love and affection of thousands of my 'Udanpirappu' (brothers and sisters of DMK party) and the people who had gathered here," Karunanidhi said.

Karunandihi recalled that earlier, such weddings (Seerthirutha Tirumanam) would attract only about 100 people. Now thousands of people had gathered at the venue, and this showed how the concept of self-respect marriage system had spread far and wide and became popular.

Rajni, Pranab at Alagiri son's wedding

"I hope it will become more popular in the years to come," he said.

Describing his son and Fertilisers Minister M K Alagiri as a sugarcane, Karunanidhi said he should be "handled carefully".

Rajni, Pranab at Alagiri son's wedding

"If you go on eating the sugarcane after finding the root portion of it very sweet, carelessly, then you will cut yourself with the sharp blades of the grass in the top portion of the cane," he said without elaborating on the analogy.