Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) general secretary and Villupuram MP D. Ravikumar on Sunday urged Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay to convene an all-party meeting on the Mekedatu issue after the CPI(M), AIADMK, and the PMK criticised the resolution passed in the Assembly on the grounds that it was not adopted in accordance with the procedure.

In a statement, Mr. Ravikumar said it was important for all parties in Tamil Nadu to speak in one voice. “Even if that criticism is valid, would it not signal to the Karnataka government that Tamil Nadu lacks a consensus on this crucial issue? Would that not weaken our position? That is precisely why our leader Thol. Thirumavalavan had called for an all-party meeting. At least now, the Chief Minister should convene one,” he said.

Mr. Ravikumar added: “In Karnataka, the Congress and the BJP may compete politically, but they stand united on Mekedatu. We should learn from them. Tamil Nadu’s interests must not be sacrificed in the name of procedural lapses.”