Enact anti-defection law for members of local bodies: Jaya

Chennai, Sep 21: Expressing apprehension over the possibility of large-scale horse-trading after the panchayat elections to be held next month, AIADMK General Secretary and former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa today urged the DMK Government to enact an anti-defection law for representatives of local bodies.

Talking to reporters after a meeting of the allies of the AIADMK-led Democratic People's Alliance to discuss the forthcoming civic elections, she said the DMK Government had brought in objectional changes in the conduct of panchayat elections.

The Government had done away with direct election of Corporation Mayors, Municipality Chairpersons and Panchayat Presidents as it feared that the AIADMK would easily win those posts, including in Chennai, she claimed.

Pointing out that there was ten-days gap between the counting of votes and the selection of local body heads by councillors, Ms Jayalalithaa said it would only facilitate horse-trading. ''The AIADMK strongly condemns the Government's move,'' she added.

''The anti-defection law for MPs and MLAs is very stringent and seeks to disqualify them if they are defec to another party. But, there is no such legislation for the local bodies representatives,'' she pointed out.

Ms Jayalalithaa said the Government's ''failure'' to check the spread of chikungunya, the proposed satellite city project which was dropped after the ''AIADMK's stiff opposition,'' the move to disinvest Neyveli Lignite Corporation, the ''flaws'' in the distribution of free colour TV scheme and the ongoing controversy over according autonomous status to JIPMER in Puducherry, would be the poll plank of the AIADMK-led DPA in the panchayat elections.

On the banner of revolt raised against the party leadership by AIADMK legislator S V Shanmugam, Ms Jayalalithaa, quoting a couplet, said there was no redemption for those who were thankless. Asked whether the rebel MLA would be sacked from the party, she said ''I can say only this much now. Take it as a trailer and wait and watch.'' Mr Shanmugam showered praises on Local Administration Minister and Mr Karunanidhi's son M K Stalin at a goverment function recently, stating that he was the only leader, who was capable of reuniting all Dravidian parties.

On a resolution passed by the DMK-led Democratic Progressive Alliance to bring out a white paper on pending files left uncleared by the previous AIADMK Government, Ms Jayalalithaa said instead of focusing on people's welfare measures, the government was wasting time in finding faults with her.

It had become a practice for Chief Minister M Karunanidhi to hurl allegations against her on a daily basis, she charged.

''Even at a meeting convened to discuss the panchayat elections, they had passed a resolution against me. They have no other subject for discussion other than me,'' she added.

Refuting the allegation that thousands of files were left uncleared by her government, Ms Jayalalithaa said one could not approve all the files without raising a query.

If there was any doubt in a file, it would be sent back for clarification. It was just a routine administrative procedure, she said.

When she took over the reins as Chief Minister in 2001, the previous DMK Government had left thousands of files pending. But she did not have ''petty mind'' like Mr Karunanidhi to make it an issue, the AIADMK supremo said.

Ms Jayalalithaa said in an average, a Chief Minister would receive 250 to 500 files from various departments in a week. ''During the five-year rule of the AIADMK from 2001-2006, I received a minimum of 60,000 files. ''Several public welfare measures and public works were implemented only after most of the files and issued orders were cleared by me, she added.

The AIADMK General Secretary said a nine-member committee had been formed to hold talks with allies on seat-sharing for the panchayat elections.

UNI