Jaya re-elected as General Secretary for 5th term

Chennai, Sep 10: The Opposition AIADMK Supremo J Jayalalithaa was on Wednesday, Sep 10 unanimously re-elected as General Secretary of the party for a fifth term.

As Ms Jayalalithaa was the only nominee for the party's top post, election officer Visalakshi Nedunchezhiyan declared her elected unopposed at the party headquarters here. Scores of partymen had filed nominations on behalf of Ms Jayalalithaa till September 7, the last date for the receipt of nominations. The Election process began on September two. The papers were taken up for scrutiny on September 8 and after the withdrawal date on Tuesday, Sep 9, Ms Jayalalithaa was the lone nominee. In the absence of a contest, Ms Nedunchezhiyan declared Ms Jayalalithaa elected unanimously.

Ms Jayalalithaa thanked her partymen for unanimously electing her as General secretary for yet another term after receiving the election letter from Ms Nedunchezhiyan.

She pledged to work for the welfare of partymen and development of the party, founded by her mentor, late Chief Minsiter M G Ramachandran, till the end, with duty, dignity and discipline based on the principles of late Chief Minister C N Annadurai.

After the death of the party founder-leader M G Ramachandran in 1987, the AIADMK split into two groups, one headed by Ms Jayalalithaa and the other by MGR's widow Janaki Ramachandran. But after the both the factions suffered a debacle in the 1989 assembly elections, they merged. Since Ms Ramachandran quit active politics, Ms Jayalalithaa has been heading the party.

She was elected as General Secretary for the fourth term in 2003. As per the party Constitution, elections to the General Secretary's post were being conducted once in five years.

UNI