No turning point in TN politics, asserts Jaya

Reacting to a query on whether her allegation of a secret understanding between the BJP and the DMK had come true, Jayalalitha said, “There is no open manifestation of a deal.” When scribes persisted, pointing out that the Prime minister had made it clear that he was ready to accept support from any party, including the DMK, she quipped, “When such a situation arises, I will give the answer. Now, it is hypothetical”.

Asked whether Vajpayee’s utterances meant that he was moving towards new alliancepartners in the State, Jayalalitha, after a brief hesitation, shot back, “You will have to ask the Prime Minister.”

On her 90-minute meeting with Union Defence Minister George Fernandes on Wednesday, Jayalalitha said Fernandes had already spoken to the Press about it. Elaborating, she said, “The meeting was cordial. It was aimed at putting the relationship between the BJP and the AIADMK on an even keel.”

On the proposed Cabinet expansion, she said she would be holding discussions with the Prime Minister with regard to inducting more AIADMK members into the Union Cabinet.

Asked to react to the apparent bonhomie between DMK president and Chief Minister M Karunanidhi and MDMK leader Vaiko at the Chennai airport during a reception organised for the Prime Minister, she said, “Nothing much should be attached to such light moments. It is common for political leaders belonging to Opposition parties to exchange pleasantries if they meet in public”.

Asked whether she had the BJP in mind when she warnedher allies not to use the AIADMK as a ladder to scale heights and then try to kick it, Jayalalitha explained, “It was not a threat. The observation I made is applicable to all the parties allied to the AIADMK. It is applicable to all the allies who are using the AIADMK to prosper. I did not have any particular party in mind when I made the statement.”

She said the rally organised by her party at Tiruchy had been a great success and she was very happy about it.