Chennai: Coming out with an official announcement on the diamond jubilee celebrations of DMK president M. Karunanidhi, party working president M.K. Stalin on Monday said Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar would take part in the function on June 3.
Speaking to the media, Stalin said the participation of Karunanidhi is unlikely but it could happen if doctors permitted it. Giving a list of participants, he said CPM general secretary Sitaram Yechury, National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah, RJD leader Lalu Prasad Yadav, CPI national secretary D. Raja, NCP leader Sharad Pawar, Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha leader Derek O’Brien, IUML leader K.M. Khader Moideen and Puducherry Chief Minister V. Narayanasamy would participate in the function to be held in the city.
Queried about Karunanidhi’s health, he reiterated that there is no likelihood of the DMK president participating in the function. But, there would a chance of his taking part if the doctors allowed him.
When asked if there would be discussion on the common candidate for Presidential elections, the leader of Opposition said Congress president Sonia Gandhi had already spoken about announcing a common candidate to him through telephone.
All other political leaders are discussing the matter among themselves. The common candidate would be decided only after all leaders completed the deliberations.
The June 3 function is not for Presidential candidate discussions and it is for Karunanidhi's birthday and the diamond jubilee of his Assembly entry, he added.
Despite DMK's request to convene the Assembly for discussions on the demands for grants to various ministries, there had been no reply, Stalin said and added that the ruling AIADMK is afraid that they would not have a majority if the Assembly is convened.
Due to this fear, the two groups of the AIADMK are vying with each other to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
