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Improve 'PR', CM counsels BJP MLA

By Our Special Correspondent

Chennai April 10. "Improve your public relations," the Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa, gently counselled the BJP MLA, P. Arasan, in the Assembly today.

The Chief Minister's advice came when the Aranthangi MLA, who joined the BJP last year along with his leader, S. Thirunavukkarasar, candidly confessed that his clout in the party was too little for him to persuade the BJP-led Central Government to allot more funds for drought relief.

"I only know the Union Minister, Thirunavukkarasar," he conceded. At this, Ms. Jayalalithaa asked him to improve his "PR" and talk to the other BJP Ministers from Tamil Nadu as well. Promptly, Mr. Arasan, an acolyte of the former AIADMK leader, Mr. Thirunavukkarasar, thanked the Chief Minister for her "valuable guidance for his political growth."

The banter began when Mr. Arasan, speaking on the Revenue department budget, asked the Government to get more funds for drought relief from the Centre, prompting Ms. Jayalalithaa to remind him that it was his party which was running the Central Government and that he should be getting the funds from the Centre.

"If you get an increased fund allocation, I will be grateful," Ms. Jayalalithaa said.

The BJP floor leader, K.N. Lakshmanan, intervened to say he would take up the matter with the Deputy Prime Minister, L.K. Advani, who headed a drought relief committee.

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