Congress slams Jaya's volte face on Prez polls

Puducherry, July 19: Coming down heavily on the last minute volte face by AIADMK supremo J Jayalalithaa in the Presidential election, the Congress today said the move had exposed her true colours.

Addressing a press conference here, AICC Secretary G Sudhakar Reddy said the people of the Union Territory would teach a befitting lesson to Ms Jayalalithaa, who had directed her party MPs and Legislators to vote for NDA-backed Independent Bhairon Singh Shekhawat after announcing that the party would abstain from voting for either UPA nominee Pratibha Patil or Mr Shekhawat.

He alleged that the United National Progressive Alliance (UNPA), of which the AIADMK was a key constituent, was a grouping of corrupt leaders. With Ms Jayalalithaa's decision, the UNPA had lost its credibility and was now disintegrated and directionless with internal bickerings.

He said despite ''malicious, uncalled for and motivated'' campaign against Ms Patil, the electorate had shown zeal and enthusiasm in exercising their franchise and Ms Patil would win the election with a huge margin. He thanked AICC President Sonia Gandhi for selecting a woman candidate and also those who voted in her favour.

UNI