AIADMK will join Pondy Govt. if offer comes: Jayalalitha

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI, MAY 23. Reaffirming that the AIADMK would offer ``unconditional support'' to the Congress in Pondicherry, the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, Ms. Jayalalitha, today clarified that this gesture did not necessarily mean that it would stay away from joining a Congress- led Government.

In the event of the Congress extending an invitation to the AIADMK to join the government, the AIADMK would indeed accept it, she said.

The AIADMK had already offered ``unconditional support'', but this was misinterpreted to give the impression that the party would stay out of the government, she said in a statement.

Later talking to reporters here, Ms. Jayalalitha said there was no need for any ``big strategy'' to deal with the DMK in the Assembly. Reacting to the problems in the NDA following the BJP- Samata conflict, she said: ``Let us wait and watch the developments.''

Ms. Jayalalitha presided over a meeting of AIADMK MLAs, many of whom are debutantes in the Assembly. Senior members advised them on how to conduct themselves in the House and asked them not to be provoked by Opposition members.

Meanwhile, the newly-elected members of the TMC, the Congress, the PMK, the CPI(M) and the CPI met Ms. Jayalalitha at the Secretariat and thanked her for ensuring their election victory. Ms. Jayalalitha greeted them and sought their continued cooperation and support.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : National
Previous : Cyclone threat: Gujarat put on alert
Next     : 'Growth rate may dip'