Karunanidhi likely to skip Bangalore visit this summer

The simmering differences between Karnataka and neighbouring Tamil Nadu over the Cauvery issue are likely to force Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi to skip his annual summer visit to his daughter’s residence in Bangalore.

For years, the DMK chief has been regularly visiting his daughter at her residence in J P Nagar during summer vacations and spending time with his grand-children. But, DMK leaders in Bangalore are not sure whether Karunanidhi will be visiting Bangalore this summer when the tempers are running high on both sides of the border over the Cauvery dispute.

DMK leaders made it clear that their leader would not like to be booed by protestors when he comes on a private visit to Bangalore. “However, the DMK chief will weigh all pros and cons of his visit before deciding on his summer vacation”, said a DMK leader in Bangalore.

The DMK is also acutely concerned about Karunanidhi’s visit to Bangalore igniting anti-Tamil feelings and affect the safety and security of Tamil families residing in Bangalore and elsewhere in Karnataka.

The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, who has already ruled out any talks with Karnataka on the Cauvery issue, would also be keen to avoid any meeting with his Karnataka counterpart H D Kumaraswamy. For, the Karnataka Chief Minister had surprised Karunanidhi by calling on him at her daughter’s residence in Bangalore last year and spending about 30 minutes with the DMK leader discussing a host of issues including Cauvery.

“We are not sure whether he would come or not this year. Any decision on visiting Bangalore will be taken after the ongoing Tamil Nadu Assembly sessions concludes”, said the DMK leader.