Whoever offers more autonomy to States in the country stand to gain the support and cooperation of AIADMK and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister JJayalalithaa. Sounding the war cry for the upcoming parliamentary elections, Jayalalithaa on Thursday asked her party cadre to go for a 40-0 giant kill in the electoral battle. In an emotional appeal made to the AIADMK cadre on the eve of the 97th birth anniversary of party founder and former Chief Minister MG Ramachandran (MGR), she exhorted them to win all the 40 lok Sabha seats at stake from Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.
Harping on her favourite topic of autonomy for States, Jayalalithaa said the better growth of Tamil Nadu and other States in the country could be realised only if the States are given greater autonomy. “The Indian republic would have been made stronger only if States were strengthened. A change of guard is required at the Centre for this; one that benefits Tamil Nadu and its people. For that to happen we should win all the 40 lok Sabha seats,” she said. (Tamil Nadu has 39 seats while the Union Territory of Puducherry has one seat).
She blamed the wrong economic policies of the UPA Government for all the ills facing the nation. The AIADMK leader blasted her arch rival M Karunanidhi for not doing anything for the benefit of Tamil Nadu though his party has been enjoying uninterrupted power at the Centre for almost two decades.
“Once we sweep this election, AIADMK will become a massive power deciding the future of India,” said Jayalalithaa. She said the Congress Government at the Centre has been perennially ignoring Tamil Nadu.