Prime Minister Manmohan Singh andCongress President Sonia Gandhi will attend the funeral ofUnion Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh tomorrow.
Union Ministers Sharad Pawar and Sushilkumar Shinde willalso be present, sources said. AICC general secretary JanardanDwivedi confirmed the visit of Gandhi.
The sources said that Singh will also visit Deshmukh'snative place Babhalgaon in Maharashtra, where the cremationwill take place.
Meanwhile, a meeeting of the Union Cabinet chaired by thePrime Minister this evening passed a resolution condolingDeshmukh's death and hailing him as a "grassroots politicalleader" with extraordinary sensitivity to the people's needs.
"Deshmukh was a valued Member of the Union Cabinet. Hehandled his public responsibilities with tact, politeness andgrace. He was held in very high esteem across the politicalspectrum. In his death, the country has lost a popularleader," the Cabinet resolution said.
It also placed on record the Cabinet's appreciation ofDeshmukh's services to the nation and deep sense of grief andloss at his passing away and extended its sincere condolencesto the members of his family.
The Cabinet decided that Deshmukh will be given statefuneral.
"The Cabinet has learnt with profound sorrow about thepassing away of Deshmukh, Union Cabinet Minister today atChennai. The Cabinet condoles the untimely and sad demise ofDeshmukh," the release said.
The resolution noted that during his long politicalcareer, Deshmukh worked in different capacities both in thestate and the Centre.