EPS discusses Cauvery row, RS polls, NDA ties at meeting with Modi

According to sources, Palaniswami, who attended the first meeting of Niti Aayog held in New Delhi post the Lok Sabha polls, also briefed Modi about the current political situation in the State.

Later, the AIADMK co-convenor interacted with Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and sought the dues and GST rebate pending from the Centre for the State.

Palaniswami also met with Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari and Water Resources Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and discussed state projects related to the respective ministries.

Mekedatu dam issue was among the subjects that came up for discussion with Shekhawat, while the CM submitted a detailed plan on the proposed highway projects pending in Tamil Nadu to Gadkari.

The Tamil Nadu Assembly had last December adopted a resolution urging the Centre to withdraw the permission given to Karnataka for a detailed project report for its proposed dam across river Cauvery at Mekedatu.

Palaniswami, who will be in national capital till Sunday, also plans to meet BJP chief and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. There are also unconfirmed reports that the CM EPS had tried seeking two cabinet berths for the AIADMK during the next expansion of union cabinet.

State Fisheries Minister D Jayakumar and Chief Secretary Girija Vaidyanathan accompanied Palaniswami during the meetings.

The CM held discussions with senior AIADMK leaders R Vaithilingam and Jayakumar before meeting the Prime Minister,sources said.