Karunanidhi flays Jaya's comments on by-poll result

Chennai, Oct 18 (UNI) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi today flayed leader of the opposition and AIADMK General Secretary J Jayalalithaa for describing the DMK's victory in the Madurai Central Assembly constituency as 'concocted'.

Having said the by-elections were held in a free and fair manner, the AIADMK leader had now described the DMK's win as concocted, probably due to a 'slip of the tongue', Mr Karunanidhi said, answering a questionnaire here.

While being Chief Minister, Ms Jayalalithaa had admitted on the floor of the house that she had 'slips of the tongue' and her contradictory remarks now about the by-election could also be one and she could be pardoned for this, the DMK leader said.

He said when he congratulated the fledgling Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) for its impressive performance in the by-election, its leader Vijayakanth had held the DMK to be synonymous with rowdyism. 'As the followers of Anna (late leader C N Annadurai) we can only wish those who castigate us good', he quipped.

On Ms Jayalalithaa likening senior party leaders K Anbazhagan and Arcot N Veerasamy to 'chikungunya mosquitoes' surrounding him, Mr Karunanidhi asked 'when a section of the media is willing to hail her as ''sabash Jaya'' (well done Jaya), why should she hesitate to make such undignified remarks?' On Ms Jayalalithaa's demand for the anti-defection law for local bodies, he said, when some councillors joined the DMK after the 2001 local body elections, the State Election Commission had written to the then Jayalalithaa government, recommending anti-defection law.

Having failed to take any action for two years while being in power, Ms Jayalalithaa was now making a hue and cry and it was for the people to decide.

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