Push For Opposition Unity At Stalin's Big Birthday Bash

But while the occasion will have most opposition leaders on one stage, the rifts will be also there in plain sight owing to the absentees.

The next big opposition show of unity will be on March 1 – sponsored by Tamil Nadu's ruling DMK. The occasion is the 70th birthday of Chief Minister MK Stalin and the DK is planning a huge public meeting in Chennai. But while the occasion will have most opposition leaders on one stage, the rifts will be also there in plain sight owing to the absentees.

Sources said Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has not been invited. The Trinamool Congress chief is has been keeping a low-profile since the election for the President's post and lending only issue-based support to Opposition front even inside Parliament.

Sources also said Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao and his Delhi counterpart Arvind Kejriwal have not been invited out of "mutual understanding". The Congress will be present for the function, represented by Mallikarjun Kharge and this is not acceptable to either leader.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar will skip event as his birthday falls on same day and Nationalist Congress chief Sharad Pawar, a Congress ally in Maharashtra, has cited poor health.