Giving ample indications for the first time that her party is not averse to forging alliances to face next year’s Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu, AIADMK supremo and Chief Minister Jayalalithaa said on Thursday she will take the right decision in sync with the circumstances.
She also launched a blistering attack on opposition parties — in particular the DMK — over the issue of release of surplus waters from Chembarambakkam reservoir, which had allegedly led to unprecedented flooding in several parts of the city and suburbs early this month, and asked her partymen to expose the “lies”.
“You should peel off the false mask of the DMK and explain the truth to the people,” she told the AIADMK’s general council, referring to a proposed protest here by Karunanidhi on January 5 on the issue.
Jayalalithaa, who had shown disinterest in forging alliances after the 2011 Assembly polls, appeared to be open for tie-ups for the coming electoral battle.
“There is no specific strategy to face polls. For instance, we aligned with some parties for the 2009 Lok Sabha elections and some parties for the 2011 Assembly polls. Similarly, for the Assembly elections I will take a correct decision according to the situation prevalent at that point in time,” she said.
Her remarks assume significance as the DMK has already started wooing potential allies, especially actor-politician Vijayakant, whose DMDK emerged the principal opposition in the Assembly, having fought the 2011 polls in alliance with AIADMK.
However, the AIADMK-DMDK alliance fell apart soon after the polls.
The BJP, which is seeking to expand its presence in the State, is also keen to rope in the DMDK in the NDA while the PMK has already announced it would lead a front for the polls.
Earlier in the day, the AIADMK general council, the party’s key-decision making body, authorised Jayalalithaa to take all election-related decisions.
“In order to ensure the AIADMK’s victory in the 2016 Assembly elections, this general council authorises party general secretary Amma (as Jayalalithaa is popularly known) to take all election-related decisions,” said the resolution proposed by presidium chairman E Madhusudhnan and seconded by all GC members.
The Chief Minister, citing her pro-people welfare measures, expressed confidence that the party will capture power for the seventh time, riding on performance, and that the AIADMK’s victory is a “foregone conclusion”.
Because of her social welfare initiatives, the State is forging ahead in health and education indicators, she said.
She also cited the ₹2.4 lakh crore investment commitment made at the Global Investors’ Meet held in September.
Impeccable record
Slamming DMK chief Karunanidhi and his son MK Stalin, she said the party-led government had earlier ‘betrayed’ Tamils, and cited power cuts, the approval given for methane mining in Cauvery river bed, and the Sri Lankan Tamils issue to buttress her claim.
“People will not forgive them,” she said, adding her government has an “impeccable record.”
The AIADMK has formed the government in the State six times — three times under party founder late MG Ramachandran and three times under her, Jayalalithaa noted.
The AIADMK urged the Centre to issue an ordinance to allow Jallikattu in the State, and to take steps to prevent the harassment of fishermen from the State by the Sri Lankan forces.
The AIADMK general council has authorised Jayalalithaa to take all election-related decisions.