Opinion poll approves Jayalalithaa donning mantle

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI, JUNE 20. After a major election victory, the AIADMK Government led by Ms. Jayalalithaa, continues to enjoy popular support among the people, going by an opinion poll conducted by the Culture and Communication Centre in the Loyola College here.

Its assistant director, Mr. R. Kaliswaran, told reporters today that the poll, completed two days ago, was held to feel the people's pulse in the post-election scenario, as part of an on- going research into the mass media's influence on people's thinking.

As per the results, 56.6 per cent of the 2,630 persons approached, approved Ms. Jayalalithaa becoming Chief Minister, despite the rejection of her nomination papers, while 25.8 per cent disapproved of the action; 17.6 per cent were indecisive.

Asked whether she could continue as Chief Minister, 58.2 per cent people felt she should continue in office and that the law should respect the people's mandate; 27.2 per cent of the respondents felt she could not ``escape from the law''; 14.6 per cent preferred to `wait and watch'.

The poll also showed that the AIADMK would have an edge in this year's local bodies polls also - it is expected to poll 28.7 per cent of the vote, against the DMK's 24.4 per cent share.

This would mean a 4.3 per cent advantage in terms of the number of seats. ``Other parties'' would get 46.9 per cent of the votes.

Thirtyseven per cent of the respondents said the May 10 Assembly election results were on expected lines, while 29 per cent said the outcome was ``totally unexpected''.

On the reasons for the AIADMK's victory, 39.4 per cent of the responded saying ``an alliance of strong parties'', while 40.5 per cent respondents attributed the DMK's defeat to its ``allying with casteist parties''.

Asked about the AIADMK's prime agenda, 32.8 per cent people felt it would be to address the people's basic necessities, while nearly 30 per cent said it would be to ``take punitive action against the DMK leadership''.

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Section  : Southern States
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