CHENNAI: AIADMK general secretary and Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa has been vocal on all national issues. In fact, she has never failed to make known her views on any issue that would affect the nation as a whole. She has her own dreams for a powerful India.
Her opinions on many national issues, including the setting up of National Counter Terrorism Centre, proposal to amend BSF Act and Dam Safety Bill have stirred wide debates. It even forced Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to convene a separate meeting of the Chief Ministers of various States for discussing the NCTC issue.
On the forthcoming Presidential polls too, she will be playing a key role. Though she has said that no party has approached her with any proposal so far, the meetings with non-Congress CMs Narendra Modi and Navin Patnaik in New Delhi and Chennai respectively have given room for speculation.
On May 15, former Lok Sabha Speaker P A Sangma, who has been pitching himself as a presidential candidate, called on her leading to more speculations.
Five months ago, at the party’s general council, when she said, “The time is fast approaching for AIADMK to make great strides in national politics. The two leaves will blossom and flourish in places beyond TN.” The cadre welcomed this statement with thunderous applause. She further said, “The AIADMK flag will fly high in Red Fort (read — will become part of the Central government). The AIADMK cadre should work for achieving this goal from now on.”
Asserting that AIADMK would be part of the next government to be formed at the Centre in 2014, she said, “If we could make it to the Lok Sabha, at that time, we will be the determining force....and we need not be begging for our rights, including when it comes to water issues (hinting at Cauvery and Mullaiperiyar).”
Jayalalithaa has made one thing clear — coming to power at the Centre is mainly for resolving inter-State disputes faced by TN. But she said this with a word of caution. “Even when we are at the helm of affairs, we can create an atmosphere conducive to ensure TN’s rights, without compromising the nation’s sovereignty.”
AIADMK extended support to the BJP government at the Centre in 1998. True to the meaning of the first two words of the party - anaithinthia (all India), the party had played a big role in making BJP as the ruling party at the Centre for the first time in 1998. The AIADMK had proved itself as a national party then itself.