Monday, January 16 2006 18:37 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Communist Party of India Marxist (CPI-M) General Secretary Prakash Karat today (Jan 16, 2006) met Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) President and former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda are understood to have discussed the current political situation in the country.

JD(S) Secretary General Kunwar Danish Ali was also present at the hour-long meeting at the JD(S) leader's residence.

Both CPI(M) and JD(S) support the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government at the Centre from outside and are critical of some of the Centre's policies, particularly some economic ones and those relating to the farming sector.

The JD(S) Chief is understood to have updated the CPI(M) General Secretary about the recent political developments in Karnataka where coalition partners JD(S) and Congress are not on the best of terms with each other after the recent Panchayat polls in the state which might witness a mid-term poll if JD(S) withdrew support from the Dharam Singh Ministry.