Sarath Kumar calls Jaya a 'Woman with a vision'

Theni, Apr 17 (UNI) 'A woman with a vision' is how popular filmstar Sarath Kumar, who quit the DMK recently, described Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and AIADMK supremo Jayalalithaa on being admitted to the party along with his actor-wife Radhika here today.

Emerging from his meeting with the Chief Minister, the star, who resigned as DMK Rajya Sabha member earlier in the day told newspersons he would undertake a whirlwind campaign throughout the state to ensure the victory of the AIADMK-led Democratic People's Alliance.

In his opinion, the AIADMK was poised for a second consecutive term in office by winning a comfortable majority on its own.

The decision to join the AIADMK, he said, was prompted by the conviction to usher in a better future for the state through fresh thinking for economic development. 'Now, I am where I ought to be,' the actor with a considerable fan following said.

After arriving here by scheduled flight, the celluloid couple went by road to Theni, where Ms Jayalalitha was camping for campaign.

During the meeting, they received their AIADMK membership card.

Reiterating his charge that seniors and stalwarts were being increasingly sidelined in the DMK, where 'new entrants' were calling the shots, he said the decision to enter the AIADMK-fold was a final and lasting one, taken after due consideration. It was favoured by his fans and wellwishers.

Sarath Kumar, who joined the DMK in 1998 had a quick rise and was fielded in the Lok Sabha poll from Tirunelveli, which he lost, allegedly due to non-cooperation from a section of local party bigwigs. Later, the party sent him to the Upper House.

The actor, claiming to represent the mercantile Nadar community, was reportedly upset at the denial of a Ministerial berth in the UPA Government of which the DMK is a dominant constituent. Radhika's actor-brother, Radha Ravi, is already in the AIADMK. Their father, M R Radha, a popular filmstar, was a leader of the Dravidian movement.

In a lengthy missive to DMK president M Karunanidhi, Sarath Kumar provded reasons for quitting the party. Ignoring the latter's plea to reconsider his decision, he jumped into the AIADMK bandwagon in which many a filmstar has taken refuge in the last two months.

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