The Hindu : Front Page : “AIADMK will have bigger role in national politics”

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Thursday, Sep 11, 2008
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“AIADMK will have bigger role in national politics”

Special Correspondent

Jayalalithaa receiving a certificate of election on her being re-elected AIADMK general secretary from the party election commissioner Vishalakshi Nedunchezhian in Chennai on Wednesday.

CHENNAI: The AIADMK will have a bigger role in the national politics after the Lok Sabha polls, party’s general secretary Jayalalithaa said on Wednesday.

“It is not the question of me looking for a bigger role. A bigger role awaits the AIADMK at the national level,” she said.

“It is my message today. You can draw your inferences,” she said responding to a question about her role and the kind of alliances she was looking for at the national level.

Ms. Jayalalithaa, who was unanimously elected the general secretary of the party for the sixth time, called upon the party cadres to remain united as “the party had a bright future not only in Tamil Nadu, but also at the national level.”

She said the public meeting organised by the party in Theni district to mark the beginning of the birth centenary of former Chief Minister C.N. Annadurai on September 14 could be the beginning of the election campaign.

Asked whether any progress had been made to open channels with the Left parties and the PMK, since she had said she was not averse to an alliance with these parties, Ms. Jayalalithaa said, “As and when any development takes place we will certainly keep you informed.”

“Anyway, nothing can be kept hidden or secret from the media,” she quipped.

To a question on bringing together the Opposition parties that were independently staging agitations against the DMK government, she said, “If these parties come forward, we are ready to cooperate with them.”

Asked whether there would be a message for the friendly parties at the Theni public meeting, she said at present the meeting was confined to celebrating the birth centenary of Annadurai.

Ms. Jayalalithaa said there was no need to move a no-confidence motion against the DMK government, since people had already lost confidence in it. “It is on its last legs,” she added.

The Indo-U.S. nuclear deal, she said, was a clear sell-out.

“It is quite clear that according to this agreement there will be no more nuclear tests. India has bartered away its sovereign rights. Therefore, my objection, rather the AIADMK’s objection. We will continue to oppose it,” she said.

Earlier, Vishalakshi Nedunchezhian, the election commissioner, said as per the party rule 20 (2) Ms. Jayalalithaa had been elected unanimously.

Presidium chairman E. Madhusoodhanan, treasurer O. Panneerselvam and headquarters secretary K.A. Sengottaiyan, greeted Ms Jayalalithaa.

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