EC in helpless state: Jaya

Chennai, July 3 (UNI) AIADMK General Secretary and former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa today charged the Election Commission with being in a helpless state following ''influence'' exerted over it by the ruling DMK.

Talking to newspersons in her party headquarters here, she made this observation while replying to a question on the remarks made by Chief Electoral Officer Naresh Gupta in this regard ''The EC cannot even conduct the Madurai West bypoll. That is the state of things here,'' Ms Jayalalithaa said sarcastically, while criticising the DMK Government.

On Madras High Court's judgement against her for filing false affidavit while choosing to contest for four constituencies in 2001 Assembly elections, she said she had sought legal opinion on the judgement and appealed before the Supreme Court.

UNI