Jayalalithaa keeps allies, rivals in suspense
Tamil Nadu chief minister J. Jayalalithaa caused a fresh bout of hot speculation here meeting with leaders of the Congress, the BJP and the CPI on Monday after arriving for a two-day visit to the capital.
The maiden trip after her recent landslide victory is ostensibly for meeting Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to seek Central assistance for her state’s development projects and discussing the Sri Lankan Tamil issue.
The political temperature here has shot up as many view her visit in the backdrop of the growing acrimony between DMK and Congress over the arrest of Ms Kanimozhi in the spectrum scam.
Of particular interest was the visit by Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit to the Tamil Nadu Bhawan to meet the AIADMK chief.
It is learnt that Sonia Gandhi, who is not in Delhi at the moment, sent a message through her trusted lieutenant to Ms Jayalalithaa saying that the Congress is not averse to doing business with her.
Ms Dikshit was in touch with Ms Jayalalithaa over the last few days as per the instructions of her party boss to keep the TN CM in good humour, so that she could be ‘roped in should the situation warrant it’. It is pertinent to recall that Ms Gandhi had telephoned the AIADMK chief to congratulate her on her poll victory.
CPI leader D. Raja and BJP spokesperson Ravisha-nkar Prasad were among others who called on Ms Jayalalithaa.
Ms Jayalalithaa is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh on Tuesday. Planning Commi-ssion deputy chairperson Montek Singh Ahluwalia is also expected to be present during the meeting.
DMK leader M. Karunanidhi blamed the Congress for the spectrum arrest of his daughter Kanimozhi but later backtracked to hold the CBI responsible for it. Another DMK minister Dayanidhi Maran’s name figuring in the Aircel-Maxis deal has only worsened the relations between DMK and Congress.
But Congress leaders, including the Prime Minister, have been maintaining that the alliance with DMK remained intact “for now.”
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