Opposition leaders to attend Karunanidhi’s birthday celebration

Chennai: A galaxy of opposition leaders including Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar will share the dais here on Saturday on the occasion of DMK President M. Karunanidhi’s 94th birthday celebrations.

At the centrestage will be DMK Working President M.K. Stalin, for whom this will be the first major event in which various national leaders will be taking part.

The event comes at a time when opposition parties are in discussions to field a common candidate in the Presidential polls.

The DMK will also celebrate the diamond jubilee of Karunanidhi’s entry into the state assembly.

NCP leader Sharad Pawar, TMC Parliamentary Party chief Sudip Bandhopadhyay, CPI-M General Secretary Sitaram Yechury, CPI MP D. Raja and Puducherry Chief Minister V. Narayanasamy are expected to attend the function at the YMCA grounds here.

Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad has cancelled his visit due to health reasons.

–IANS