Chennai: Key opposition leaders in national politics were in Chennai on Wednesday to greet Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on his 70th birthday wherein they attempted to showcase their unity ahead of the 2024 General Elections with one of them suggesting the birthday boy as the opposition's Prime Ministerial candidate.
Jammu Kashmir National Conference president Farooq Abdullah said there are chances for DMK chief Stalin to become the Prime Minister if opposition parties come together and win the general election next year. On his arrival here to take part in the birthday celebrations of Stalin, Farooq, when asked on prospective Prime Ministerial candidates said a decision could be made on the best man to lead and unite the nation at the appropriate time after a win by a united opposition in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
Asked about the chances of Stalin becoming the Prime Minister, he told reporters: "Why not? Why can't he become the Prime Minister?" To a question on opposition unity, he said Stalin and DMK have done very well. When the nation's diversity is protected, then unity is guarded, he said. Unlike Farooq who did not have second thoughts about Stalin as PM candidate, Congress president Mallikarjuna Kharge chose diplomacy over speaking his mind.
Calling for opposition unity ahead of the 2024 Parliamentary polls, Kharge said it was imperative to unitedly fight against "divisive forces" and indicated that the question of a PM candidate of such a bloc was "not the question". In his address, Kharge lashed out at the BJP, alleging it was attempting to polarise for electoral gains even as people were facing suffering from rising inflation and unemployment.
"There was a need to remain united to protect the country and the Constitution. All like-minded opposition parties must come together in this fight against divisive forces. I never said who will lead, who will become the Prime Minister. We (Congress) are not telling who will lead or not going to lead. It is not the question. We want to fight together unitedly, that is our desire. That is why we have sacrificed many times in the name of secularism, in the name of liberty, in the name of freedom of expression," he said. "That we have done and showed, and we have also lost many times," he added.
Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav was also all praises for Stalin and expressed confidence the latter will rise to national prominence. Yadav, former chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, said Stalin has done "exemplary work" for Tamil Nadu's development as its Chief Minister. He was speaking at a DMK event organised here to mark Stalin's 70th birthday.
Recalling Stalin's rise through the ranks of the DMK and especially his tenure as the first elected Mayor of Chennai, Yadav referred to the leader's arrest during the Emergency and said this was his contribution for democracy. Lauding the various social welfare schemes piloted by Stalin, he praised the DMK chief's efforts in forging a platform for social justice and said "I along with other leaders would love to lead future generations towards justice."
"I wish him great health and immense drive to advance his unique pursuit of social justice and equality-oriented good governance." "I am certain that he will rise to great political heights and national prominence," Yadav added.
