Top national leaders to attend Karunanidhi's birthday celebrations

Chennai, May 22 (ians) Amidst ongoing consultations among opposition leaders on the upcoming presidential election, top national leaders, including Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah and Left leaders will attend the birthday celebrations of DMK President M Karunanidhi here on June 3.

DMK Working President M.K. Stalin told reporters here on Monday that RJD chief Lalu Prasad, 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 will be present on the occasion when the diamond jubilee of Karunanidhi's entry into the Tamil Nadu Assembly will be celebrated.

Stalin said the occasion was not for holding consultations on the common opposition candidate for the upcoming presidential election. He said Congress President Sonia Gandhi has already contacted him on the issue. Parleys were on among leaders and a decision would be taken, he said.

Stalin has already announced that Karunanidhi, who will turn 93 on June 3 and is ailing on account of age-related illness, will not be attending the function.

--IANS

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