The nascent efforts for a united opposition faced its first big test on Sunday as a clutch of parties, sources said, opposed DMK chief MK Stalin's proposal that Rahul Gandhi be the opposition front's prime ministerial candidate for next year's national elections. The Congress chief and his mother, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi were in Chennai on Sunday for the unveiling of a statue of DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi, who died in August. At the political meeting later, attended by several opposition leaders, DMK chief MK Stalin said "Rahul has got the ability to defeat fascist Modi government. Let's strengthen Rahul Gandhi's hands, let's save the country".
