Digital Desk: Four prominent opposition figures are expected to share the platform with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi at the inauguration of Tamil Nadu chief minister and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) chairman M K Stalin's autobiography here on Monday.
Apart from Rahul, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejashwav, and National Conference leader Omar Abdullah have been invited and are expected to attend the launch of "Ungalil Oruvan" (meaning One Among You), the first part of K Stalin's autobiography, at Chennai Trade Centre, according to DMK functionaries familiar with the matter.
"I have recorded the first 23 years of my life journey, from 1953, when I was born, until 1976, when I was arrested under MISA (Maintenance of Internal Security Act) during the Emergency, under the title 'One Among You'. I have recorded my childhood thoughts, school memories, moments of affection with Kalaignar (M Karunanidhi) and my experiences, including the time when my political participation began," Stalin told reporters on Sunday.
The event coincides with West Bengal chief minister and Trinamool Congress (TMC) president Mamata Banerjee's suggestion for a conference of chief ministers from non-Bharatiya Janata Party-ruled states to create a regional party front against the saffron party at the Centre. Following his talk with Banerjee on February 13, Stalin tweeted his support and stated that the gathering of chief ministers might take place outside of Delhi. Stalin then slammed West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar's decision to call the state's legislative assembly session to a halt.
Banerjee, on the other hand, will not be present at the ceremony on Monday. It was unclear whether the TMC chairman had been invited to the function.
While Stalin has previously hailed Gandhi as the future young leader, earlier this month he thanked the Congress leader for his "rousing speech in Parliament" and for voicing Tamils' "long-standing arguments."
The two leaders have a friendly connection. At a party function in 2018, the DMK chairman initially recommended Rahul as the opposition's prime minister candidate for the 2019 Lok Sabha election. Rahul's mother, Congress President Sonia Gandhi, was also present at the ceremony.
The DMK, together with its partners the Congress and the Left, just dominated the urban local body elections.
In a letter to the party cadre on Sunday evening, Stalin described their alliance's performance akin to scoring a sixer on each ball of an over in cricket.
"DMK's founder C N Annadurai had said while founding the party that its services would be needed for half-a-century. In the current scenario, the need is more than ever," Stalin said.
"The DMK's journey in pursuit of social justice will cover the whole of the Indian Union. The first step towards this is the All India Federation for Social Justice," he added.
Stalin had sent a similar letter to 37 opposition leaders in January, encouraging them to join the All India Federation for Social Justice in order to resist religious hegemony and unite for social justice. The Congress, Left parties, and Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party accepted his offer, however the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam did not (AIADMK).
Meanwhile, the book, which is expected to be issued on Monday, recounts Stalin's first 23 years of existence, from his birth in 1953 through his incarceration during the Emergency in 1976.
Interestingly, Rahul's late grandmother, former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, imposed the Emergency and later dissolved the then-DMK administration in Tamil Nadu in 1976, alleging non-compliance with the Maintenance of Internal Security Act.
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