Nitish Kumar's TN Visit Cancelled, Deputy Tejashwi Yadav To Attend Inauguration Of Karunanidhi's Memorial

Bihar CM Nitish Kumar's Tamil Nadu visit has been cancelled but his deputy Tejashwi Yadav will attend the inauguration of a memorial for late DMK president M Karunanidhi today.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar with Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav ( Image Source :PTI )

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar would not be visiting Tamil Nadu today but Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav attend the inauguration of a memorial for late DMK president M Karunanidhi in the Tiruvarur district. The two leaders were scheduled to visit Chennai at the invitation of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, reported news agency PTI. During the event, the Bihar CM was to inaugurate the 'Kalaignar Kottam'. Now, Tejashwi Yadav will open the 'Muthuvelar' Library. A 'kottam' in Tamil refers to a structure built in memory of someone highly respected.

"It is a great honour for JD(U) supremo Nitish ji as he has been invited to inaugurate a memorial of a stalwart like Karunanidhi," a JD(U) senior leader said, reported PTI.

During the visit, the two leaders were also slated to hold talks with Stalin ahead of the June 23 Mega Opposition leaders meeting in Patna. Besides Stalin, Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, NCP leader Sharad Pawar, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray and some more opposition leaders have sent their consent to attend the meeting.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar continues to stay in touch with Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and former party chief Rahul Gandhi. Sources said during the second such meeting, the roadmap for strengthening Opposition unity and a possible meeting of Opposition leaders in Patna were discussed. There are efforts to strengthen the Opposition's unity to take on the BJP in the 2024 general elections, reported PTI. 

The JD(U) leader also met Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal at his residence and extended "complete support" to him in the face-off with the Centre over the control of administrative services in the national capital.