Jayalalitha keeps BJP hanging

CHENNAI/DELHI, July 1: The BJP-led Government's hopes rose this evening and came down hours later with AIADMK leader J Jayalalitha snubbing ...

CHENNAI/DELHI, July 1: The BJP-led Government8217;s hopes rose this evening and came down hours later with AIADMK leader J Jayalalitha snubbing one of her allies who made conciliatory noises.

After a 90-minute meeting with her Tamil Nadu allies today, one of them, Tamizhaga Rajiv Congress leader and Union Petroleum Minister V Ramamurthy told reporters that there were no plans, as of now, to either pull out of the Ministry or withdraw support to the ruling coalition.

But hours later, Jayalalitha said Ramamurthy wasn8217;t authorised to make any statement on behalf of the front and that what he had said was his 8220;personal opinion.8221;

Her party8217;s stand on the issue, she said, would be 8220;announced at an appropriate time.8221; Sources said she has asked her MPs to stay back in Chennai for a possible meeting on July 4.

When The Indian Express contacted Ramamurthy at his house, the reply was that he had already gone to bed.

Earlier, Ramamurthy, accompanied by PMK leader S Ramadoss, said: 8220;We all feel thatAIADMK ministers are not allowed to freely function and they are not in a position to even choose their personal staff.8221; This has led to speculation that she may withdraw her ministers from the Cabinet as a first step.

When asked if he and other ministers in the front 8211; not belonging to the AIADMK 8211; had been allowed to 8220;function freely,8221; Ramamurthy was evasive: 8220;That is not the issue. It is only the AIADMK Ministers.8221;

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That there are differences within the AIADMK front was evident when Ramamurthy said: 8220;There is no question of boycotting the House or the AIADMK MPs not participating in the Parliament session. They will participate.8221; And leader of the AIADMK in the Lok Sabha Sedapatti Muthiah took a radically different stand.

Muthiah, who was also present at the meeting, said: 8220;No decision has been taken yet on whether to attend the session or not.8221; When pressed for details, he said: 8220;You will know on July 3 when the Parliament session resumes.8221;

However, Ramamurthy categorically stated:8220;As on date there is no question of pulling out of the Ministry or withdrawal of any support to the BJP.8221; At this point, Ramadoss intervened: 8220;We cannot say what will happen tomorrow or the day after that.8221;

Asked if the 8220;sack DMK8221; demand had been put on hold, Ramamurthy said it would not be given up. 8220;It is a continuous struggle but we cannot say when the DMK Government will be dismissed.8221; On whether strains within the AIADMK front also figured in the discussions, Ramadoss said: 8220;We had not spoken about that.8221;

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Besides the TRC and PMK leaders, a few senior party leaders including AIADMK MP, V Sathiamurthy and former Ministers K A Sengottaiyan and Chinnasamy also met Jayalalitha.

Significantly, MDMK leader Vaiko, who has opposed the use of Article 356, did not meet Jayalalitha. He is expected in the city tonight and will leave for New Delhi on Thursday morning.

In Delhi, BJP leaders are still keeping their fingers crossed.