People want me to be CM: Jayalalitha

By Suresh Nambath

CHENNAI, MAY 8. After concluding her campaign, the AIADMK general secretary, Ms. Jayalalitha, today claimed an ``overwhelming response'' from the people to her appeal for removing the DMK Government.

Reacting to the statement of the Prime Minister, Mr. A.B. Vajpayee, that the AIADMK was a ``bundle of contradictions'', she said it was the NDA which was a bundle of contradictions. The PMK had left the NDA; so also the Trinamool Congress led by Ms. Mamata Bannerjee. Also, the MDMK's relations with the NDA were ``nebulous'', she told reporters.

On the other hand, the AIADMK-led front was a well- knit, cohesive unit, she added.

Asked about the doubts whether she could be sworn in Chief Minister even if the AIADMK won a majority, she said: ``Let us take one thing at a time.'' People in rural and urban areas wanted her to become the Chief Minister, she said.

To a question on the absence of joint meetings of the AIADMK front leaders, she said this was not necessary. The leaders did not have time for such meetings.

Earlier, on the last leg of her electioneering in the capital, she took up city-related issues, particularly the drinking water problem, as the campaign theme.

Faulting the DMK Government for ignoring the water crisis, she said the city was yet to benefit from the Krishna water scheme. Although the Government claimed to have completed the scheme, there was no water flowing to the city.

Although the previous AIADMK Government under her had initiated the new Veeranam scheme, the DMK, when it came to power in 1996, dropped it. If the AIADMK was voted to power, she would ensure revival of the scheme and completion of the Krishna water scheme.

Also, she would take efforts to add two more reservoirs for Chennai so that there would not be another drinking water crisis. Ms. Jayalalitha also attacked the construction of flyovers in Chennai, which, she said, had done nothing to ease the traffic. The flyovers were built so as to swindle money from the construction project, she said. The AIADMK leader appealed to the people to put an end to the ``family rule'' of the Chief Minister, Mr. M. Karunanidhi. She had dedicated herself to work for the welfare of the people, and she was confident that the people would return the AIADMK to power, she said.

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Section  : State Elections
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