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Jayalalithaa sees political realignment

Special Correspondent

Denies Karunanidhi's charge that she had instigated poll violence

— Photo: Handout

ENDING THE FAST: AIADMK general secretary Jayalalithaa offering juice to a party candidate, who was on a fast to condemn violence during the local body elections in Chennai.

CHENNAI: Denying Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi's charge that she had instigated violence during the first phase of the local body elections in Chennai on October 13, All-India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam general secretary Jayalalithaa said on Sunday that she now foresaw realignment of political forces in the State.

Replying to a query at a press conference here, she said the DMK president's charge was "meaningless." People would not buy Mr. Karunanidhi's argument since what had happened on Friday was witnessed by the Press and the public.

On Mr. Karunanidhi's remark that the Government was contemplating legal action against her for "instigating her volunteers to resort to violence," Ms. Jayalalithaa said: "I am prepared to face any fresh case." Out of so many cases filed against her, she had been acquitted in 12 cases, she added.

Claiming that Mr. Karunanidhi had "lost his moral authority to govern the State," she said the DMK and its leader had proved that they did not believe in democracy. "But we cannot expect the DMK Government to resign on its own."

"We have to wait for better times," as people, who were disillusioned with the DMK Government, were waiting for an opportunity to throw this Government out."

Asked whether she envisaged a political realignment in view of Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam leader Vijayakant flaying the poll violence, she said: "More importantly, the alliance partners of the DMK — the Communist Party of India and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) — have categorically condemned the violence... If I am not mistaken, the CPI (M) is also approaching the court seeking a re-poll. The Bharatiya Janata Party has also flayed the violence."

She was sure that a political realignment would take place soon. "I do not want to elaborate. It is for the other parties to speak about it. I think it [the process of realignment] has already begun."

On Mr. Karunanidhi's objection to her reference to mythological character Naragasura in one of her recent statements, Ms. Jayalalithaa said if a metaphor was taken literally, then nothing could be spoken.

On the Chief Minister's remark that violence in Chennai during the civic elections this time was less than it was during the elections held in 2001, she said the comparison was "incorrect." She was neither a legislator nor Chief Minister, though the AIADMK was in power then.

"Active part"

Ms. Jayalalithaa said the police were not "passive spectators but they took an active part in the mayhem let loose" on the Opposition in Chennai on Friday. The AIADMK had decided to move the High Court pleading for the dismissal of certain police and IAS officers, including the State Election Commissioner, the Director General of Police and the Commissioner of Police, Chennai, for "dereliction of duty."

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