Jayalalitha may go on the offensive

By Suresh Nambath

CHENNAI, APRIL 23. Even as her counsel are to make submissions before returning officers tomorrow on the validity of the nominations in Krishnagiri and Andipatti, the AIADMK general secretary, Ms. Jayalalitha, is taking steps to lift the momentum of the election campaign.

Irrespective of the acceptance or rejection of her nomination tomorrow, Ms. Jayalalitha is likely to go on the offensive from April 25, after the date of scrutiny.

Until now, the ``uncertainty'' surrounding her nomination, apart from difficulties in coordinating with alliance partners, hampered the electioneering. Once the disqualification issue is out of the way and the electoral line-up is completed, senior AIADMK leaders expect Ms. Jayalalitha to revive the campaign momentum.

Unlike in the last Lok Sabha election, when her campaign was punctuated by well-organised public meetings, Ms. Jayalalitha is carrying on a low-profile, roadside canvassing for votes. But, this is likely to change in the next two days.

At present, Ms. Jayalalitha is way behind her campaign schedule. As she is insistent on covering all Assembly constituencies at least once, there is very little time with May 8 as the last day of campaigning. However, even if she is not able to squeeze in many public meetings in the remaining time, Ms. Jayalalitha is likely to expand her campaign themes and attack the DMK and the BJP on all fronts.

Instead of the fullscale offensive against the DMK and the BJP as was launched in 1999, Ms. Jayalalitha has so far stuck to a prepared text that was repeated in every constituency.

Again, unlike in 1999, when she sang ditties and indulged in rhetoric, Ms. Jayalalitha has so far not made any special effort to involve the crowd in her campaigning.

Counsel for Ms. Jayalalitha, Mr.S.S. Ray and N. Jothi, have rushed to Krishnagiri to make submissions on her behalf on the validity of the nomination papers. Two other counsel, Mr. Bapte and Mr. K.V. Vishwanathan, have been deputed to Theni to make similar submissions to the returning officer of Andipatti.

Ms. Jayalalitha is not scheduled to campaign tomorrow and she will monitor the developments regarding her nominations.

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