AIADMK may scout for allies; Jaya launches attack on Oppn

Giving ample indications for the first time that her party was not averse to forging alliances to face next year’s assembly elections in Tamil Nadu, AIADMK supremo and Chief Minister Jayalalithaa on Thursdaysaid she would take a right decision over it in sync with the circumstances.

She also launched a blistering attack on opposition parties in particular DMK over the issue of release of surplus waters from Chembarambakkam Reservoir, which they had alleged 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 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.

BJP, which is seeking to expand its presence in the state, is also keen to rope in the DMDK in the NDA while 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 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,” the resolution, proposed by Presidium Chairman E Madhusudhnan and seconded by all GC members, said.

In her address at the council meeting, Jayalalithaa dwelt with all major issues used by the opposition to target her regime.