Jayalalithaa demands DMK Government's resignation

All-India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam general secretary Jayalalithaa has demanded the resignation of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam Government in the wake of recent High Court judgement in the Chennai Corporation elections case.

In a statement here on Monday, Ms. Jayalalithaa said the recent High Court judgement had brought "disgrace" to the gvernment and it should resign owning moral responsibility.

As the High Court Judge P.K.Misra concurred with the findings of Justice F.M.Ibrahim Kalifulla and severely indicted the State Election Commissioner D.Chandrasekaran for his alleged lapses, he had no moral right to continue in the office. Similarly the Police Commissioner and the Joint Commissioner should not be allowed to continue in their posts.

Ms.Jayalalithaa alleged that even the by-elections, held on February 18, were not conducted in a free and fair manner. There were reports of booth capturing and bogus voting in various wards. Not only the AIADMK and its ally Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, the electorate also boycotted the election, she said.

Disputing the Chief Minister's contention that there were violent incidents during 2001 local body elections, when the AIADMK was in power, Ms.Jayalalithaa asked if it was so how was it possible for the DMK candidate M.K.Stalin to win the Mayor election then. Moreover, the then State Election Commissioner was not appointed by the then AIADMK Government but by the previous DMK Government.

As far as her party was concerned, it boycotted the by-elections as it felt that fair elections were not possible as long as the State Election Commissioner, Director General of Police and the Commissioner of Police continued in their posts.

The party was for annulling the Chennai Corporation elections held in October last year and also the by-elections conducted for 100 wards on Sunday. The party would file a case in the Supreme Court and continue to fight till justice was rendered, she added.

MDMK general secretary Vaiko also charged that both the Chief Minister and the Local Administration Minister had lost the moral authority to continue in the office after the judgement. In a statement here, he said the fact that only 30 per cent polling was registered in the local body by-elections on Sunday had justified the decision of the AIADMK and his party to boycott the elections.

The parties were of the view that that fair local body elections would not be possible as long as the present State Election Commissioner continued in the post. The DMK's ally CPI(M) also demanded the removal of the State Election Commissioner.

The Hindu