Jaya to keep away during BJP leaders’ visit again

In fact, the last visit of senior BJP leader and Union Home Minister L K Advani to Chennai, to participate in the wedding of MDMK leader Vaiko’s son, was also marked by Jayalalitha’s absence. Jayalalitha did not attend the wedding and had left a few days earlier for Hyderabad.

A few days ago,Jayalalitha hotly contested a reporter’s interpretation that her visit to Hyderabad was a kind of protest against Vajpayee. She maintained that she was not aware of the Prime Minister’s visit to Chennai. However, though the State Government has made public the Prime Minister’s programme in Chennai on Jan 2 and 3, there is no news yet of a change in Jayalalitha’s programme. She continues to be in Hyderabad and is likely to depute some leaders of the party to receive Vajpayee at the airport tomorrow.

Though Jayalalitha’s visits to Hyderabad might have been planned in advance, her absence has nonetheless led to speculation that the relationship between the BJP and the AIADMK continues to be strained. Her party takes the stand that her visits were worked out in advance, that her absence was not deliberate or to mark any protest, and that she was merely maintaining her commitment. However, the fact is that room has been given for speculation since Jayalalitha, despite being a major constituent of the BJP-ledcoalition, has kept away from the city during visits of the coalition’s two top leaders.

Jayalalitha has already expressed her unhappiness over the Prime Minister not consulting her about inducting Ministers.