Reliance Industries [Get Quote] Chairman Mukesh Ambani and Communist Party of India-Marxist General Secretary Prakash Karat are understood to have discussed the economic slowdown, the political situation and the CPI-M's position as a general election approaches.

Karat -- who appeared on Karan Thapar's television talk show on Sunday night for the first time in two years -- explained his party's stand on future government formation to Ambani.

The CPI-M, he is believed to have said, would look for a secular government after the Lok Sabha election.

Ambani is reported to have met with some top businessmen before he sought an appointment with Karat. After his meeting with the CPI-M boss, the Reliance chairman met with two senior Congress leaders.