Sonia, Gujral set for Kalaignar's jubilee fete

Chennai, May 10: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi are among a host of VIPs who will be attending the celebrations to commemorate Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi's completion of 50 years in the State Assembly.

The function, at Island grounds, for which the curtain is scheduled to go up at 1800 hrs in the evening, will also be attended by former Prime Ministers V P Singh and I K Gujral and senior Union Cabinet ministers including Lalu Prasad, Ram Vilas Paswan and Sharad Pawar.

Besides, CPI General Secretary A B Bardhan, CPI(M) General Secretary Prakash Karat and Dr S Ramadoss of Pattali Makkal Katchi(PMK) are also scheduled to attend the celebrations.

As a prelude to the gala function, where these national leaders would be recalling Mr Karunanidhi's achievements in the world of politics besides his artistic qualities, the leaders of the legislature parties in the Tamil Nadu Assembly will felicitate the 'versatile' 84-year-old politician, also referred to as 'Chanakya' of Indian politics.

The DMK government had invited President A P J Abdul Kalam to address the State Assembly to mark the Golden Jubilee celebrations, but the President declined due to prior engagements.

However, Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee will be addressing the House in his place on May 12.

UNI

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