New Delhi: In an interesting turn of events, BJP president Amit Shah would attend a memorial service for late DMK patriarch M. Karunanidhi while Congress president Rahul Gandhi would skip it. The Congress, which considers DMK as part of the larger Opposition grouping, would instead be represented by leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad.
“We have invited all parties,” DMK Rajya Sabha MP Kanimozhi told this newspaper. The memorial service for Karunanidhi, which would be held at the YMCA Grounds in Chennai.
Congress sources said though Mr Rahul Gandhi would be back from his foreign tour by the said date, he would not be attending the programme and the party would be represented by Mr Azad.
Mr Gandhi though had been scheduled to attend an earlier meeting on Centre-State relations and Federal issues which had been planned by the DMK last month before Mr Karunanidhi passed away on August 7.
It might be recalled that the DMK had been an important part of the Opposition grouping till the elections to the deputy chairperson position were held. However, when polls to the Rajya Sabha position were announced it refused to allow its MP Tiruchi Siva to be fielded as the candidate.
Sources had said that though Mr Siva had himself been quiet keen, the DMK top leadership had shot it down. The party, however, had voted for Congress candidate B K Hariprasad.
