Alliance with AIADMK continues: Cong.

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, SEPT. 22. The political forces ranged against the AIADMK leader, Ms. J. Jayalalithaa, saw in the Supreme Court judgment a vindication of their stand. The Congress and the Left parties refused to write her political obituary and maintained that despite the legal setback, Ms. Jayalalithaa would remain the leader of her party and continue to be a major factor in the State. Mr. Sunil Shastri, general secretary and spokesman of the BJP, told newspersons that the judgment had vindicated the party's stand that she should not have been sworn in as Chief Minister. ``The Governor erred in appointing her Chief Minister,'' he said.

His views were also echoed by the senior BJP leader, Mr. J.P. Mathur, who said that the ``judgment had proved that the mandate of the people cannot override or supersede the Constitution''. Mr. Shastri felt that Constitutional provisions had been overlooked when Ms. Jayalalithaa was appointed, while Mr. Mathur said that the AIADMK chief could contest again if she was cleared in the TANSI cases, under appeal before the Madras High Court. The Congress refused to comment on the judgment, but made it clear that its alliance with the AIADMK would continue. ``We have had friendly relations with the AIADMK since 1999 and they will continue,'' the party spokesperson, Mr. Jaipal Reddy, said.

The Congress felt that despite the reverse, Ms. Jayalalithaa would continue to control her party and remain a popular leader of the State. Mr. Reddy said Ms. Jayalalithaa would also continue to lead the alliance despite being unseated. ``She is the leader of the alliance and will continue to lead it,'' he said. The CPI(M) politburo said that as far as the legal cases were concerned, Ms. Jayalalithaa's appeal against her conviction in the TANSI cases, which was pending before the High Court, must be disposed of without any delay. The CPI echoed similar sentiments while saying that the judgment would have far-reaching implications with regard to role of the Governor, popular mandate and Constitution-related issues. The party national secretary, Mr. D. Raja, referring to the appeal filed by Ms. Jayalalithaa, said there had to be a stipulated time for such cases since any delay forfeited the democratic right of an individual.

The Janata Party president, Dr. Subramanian Swamy, described the judgment as a ``golden day for democracy'' in Tamil Nadu and suggested that the Governor appoint a caretaker Chief Minister. He said the State was headed towards Central rule and visualised a possible split in the AIADMK over the appointment of a successor. Dr. Swamy said the judgment was education to the people of Tamil Nadu.

The Janata Dal (United) welcomed the verdict saying it would go a long way in fighting corruption in politics and help cleanse the electoral system. The party spokesman, Mr. Mohan Prakash, said the judgment would also send the right signals to all those in high places that they cannot play around with Constitutional provisions citing people's verdict.

The former Prime Minister, Mr. V.P. Singh said that while the people who gave the mandate would be disappointed, the judgment has removed the ambiguity about the application of the provision relating to a convicted person's eligibility to contest an election.

PTI reports:

In Kolkata, The Union Minister for Law and Justice, Mr. Arun Jaitley, today welcomed the Supreme Court judgment quashing the appointment of the AIADMK supremo, Ms. Jayalalithaa, as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.Mr. Jaitley said here that the disqualification of Ms. Jayalalithaa's appointment as Chief Minister would send an important message, that a person who is convicted should be debarred from contesting elections and holding any constitutional office.

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