Congress president Rahul Gandhi declared on Sunday that he would defeat the BJP in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls to prevent the destruction of the 'idea of India' and protect institutions like the Supreme Court and Election Commission. He was speaking at a rally in Chennai where his mother Sonia Gandhi unveiled the statue of late DMK leader M Karunanidhi. On his part, DMK president MK Stalin reaffirmed his support for Rahul as the opposition's prime ministerial candidate.

"I want to tell the people of Tamil Nadu, in the memory of Karunanidhi ji and in respect for your language, culture and tradition, everybody in India is going to come together and I am going to defeat the BJP in the next election. We are not going to allow the destruction of the idea of India. We are not going to allow the destruction of institutions, the Supreme Court, Reserve Bank of India, Election Commission of India. And we are going to stand together and do this," Gandhi said, adding that while Karunanidhi defended institutions of this country, "today we have a (BJP) government that is attacking voice, culture, institutions of Tamil Nadu and our country".

After the unveiling, both Congress leaders also visited Karunanidhi's memorial and offered floral tribute. Karunanidhi's statue unveiling event turned into a platform for anti-BJP parties in South India to come together with chief ministers of Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Puducherry — N Chandrababu Naidu, Pinarayi Vijayan and V Narayanasamy sharing the dais.

Recalling his father's support to Indira Gandhi's return to power after the emergency, DMK chief Stalin said he proposed the name of Rahul Gandhi as the opposition's prime ministerial candidate for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. "He has got the ability to defeat the fascist nazist Modi government. I appeal to all party leaders to strengthen Rahul's hand, we will save this nation," said Stalin, who became the first opposition party leader to propose Rahul Gandhi's name for the top post.

Meanwhile, highlighting Karunanidhi's social justice initiatives and welfare measures, Sonia Gandhi said that the Congress would always recall his support to Indira Gandhi. "We will recall he was a source of support and strength to the United Progressive Alliance government. On many occasions, we looked to his knowledge and experience to guide our coalition government," she said, adding that both Congress and DMK must stand together and wage a battle against the political forces that are destroying the constitutional values, institutions and the idea of India.