Stripped of Party Post, Vijayadharani has Audience with Jaya

CHENNAI: A day after being sacked as Tamil Nadu Mahila Congress president, S Vijayadharani, MLA from Vilavancode, called on Chief Minister and AIADMK general secretary J Jayalalithaa at the Secretariat on Saturday on the pretext of requesting to expedite a project - world-class oceanarium at Mahabalipuram.

Later, she profusely praised Jayalalithaa’s reply to the discussion on the motion of thanks to the Governor for his address.

The Congress MLA’s sudden overtures to the AIADMK high command has given room for speculations that she is eyeing to join the ruling party after being unceremoniously removed as the president of the women’s wing.

Meanwhile, Vijayadharani has dashed off letters to AICC President Sonia Gandhi and vice president Rahul Gandhi seeking explanation for her removal. She has also sought an appointment with them to explain her position. Talking to Express, Vijayadharani said, “I am expecting an opportunity to meet the Congress high command and Rahul Gandhi. If I am not given an opportunity, I will decide about what to do next.”

After the State Assembly was adjourned sine die, many Ministers including the eight dissident DMDK MLAs were waiting in the lobby to meet Jayalalithaa while she left for her residence. The disgruntled Congress legislator  too was waiting for the Chief Minister for about 15 minutes and when she passed through the lobby, Vijayadharani gave her a small note asking her to expedite the oceanarium project. The Chief Minister said she would look into it. Vijayadharani also sought an appointment to meet her.

Vijayadharani said she did not meet the Chief Minister just because she had lost the party post. However, in the same breath, she was all praise for the ‘positive aspects’ and ‘growth-related’ views expressed by the Chief Minister in her reply in the Assembly.

Criticising TNCC president EVKS Elangovan, Vijayadharani said, “Congress is being ruined in Tamil Nadu because of his leadership. He has ignored all senior leaders in the State and failed to respect them. He has been making disrespectful comments on women continuously. Instead of punishing him, the Congress leadership had taken action against me. It is not democracy.”

She also lamented that she had been with the Congress for the past 28 years and her services were not recognised by the party.