CHENNAI: Chief minister M K Stalin and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had spoken over phone on Thursday morning on the delimitation bill. However, the two leaders will not be sharing stage on Saturday when Rahul will be visiting Tamil Nadu for campaigning.“The chief minister discussed delimitation issues, conveyed his support and enquired about Rahul’s campaign plans in Tamil Nadu,” a senior DMK leader said.Sources said that DMK had informed the Congress camp about Stalin’s availability for a joint programme on April 9 and 12, but it could not materialize due to unforeseen developments.Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also set to campaign in Coimbatore on Saturday.Speaking at Anna Arivalayam, DMK organisational secretary R S Bharathi said the CM’s tour schedule was finalised before the announcement of Rahul’s visit. “Hence, they would not be holding a joint campaign,’’ he said. However, DMK leaders and workers will participate in Rahul’s campaign, he said.Rescheduling Stalin’s campaign would affect the schedule in more than 40 segments, Bharathi said.Stalin has programmes scheduled in Tirupur and Mettupalayam on Saturday.“With both leaders having packed schedules, they will not be able to share the stage tomorrow. A meeting between them is possible,” said a Congress leader.Rahul Gandhi is scheduled to campaign in Ponneri, Sholinghur and Thuraiyur on Saturday. In his second leg of the campaign on April 20, he is likely to address public rallies in Colachel in Kanyakumari, Nanguneri in Tirunelveli and Srivaikuntam in Tuticorin.On the possibility of the two leaders sharing a stage on April 20, Bharathi said Stalin would take a call.
