Chennai: The unveiling of the statue of former Tamil Nadu chief minister M Karunanidhi is set to be an extensive show of strength as various political leaders arrive in Chennai for the event.

The statue unveiling will be held on Sunday at 5pm where UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi will unveil the statue and will address the gathering at the venue.

Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan, Andhra Pradesh's Chandrababu Naidu, and Puducherry CM V Narayanasamy are expected to be present during the inauguration and are also likely to address the gathering.

Addressing the media, DMK leader A Saravanan said, "Madam Sonia Gandhi could not make it for Kalaignar's funeral as she was ill, she has told us that she will come for this event. Today, we also found out that Rahul Gandhi is also likely to join us".

According to reports, New Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar have also been invited to the event. Meanwhile, actor-politician Kamal Haasan and Rajinikanth are also expected to attend.

"It is not only an emotional day but a significant day as well, as various secular forces will come together in a show of strength against the BJP and the state government," said A Saravanan, DMK leader.

The life-sized statue of Karunanidhi will be placed at the DMK headquarters in Chennai alongside DMK founder and late Tamil Nadu chief minister CN Annadurai's statue. Sculptor Deenadayalan sculpted the statue.

On November 14, the AIADMK unveiled a new statue of former chief minister J Jayalalithaa at its headquarters in Chennai, after the earlier one was criticised for not resembling the former party supremo.