Jaya attacks PC; seeks his resignation on LS poll victory

New Delhi (PTI) Otherwise appearing soft on
Congress, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on Tuesday
attacked Indian Home Minister P Chidambaram and demanded his
resignation for his "fraudulent victory" in the Lok Sabha
election but he hit back saying her remarks were "gross
contempt of court".
"Our party has always maintained that Mr Chidambaram's
victory was through fraudulent means...his continuance in the
Union Council of Minsters is untenable," she told a press
conference here.
"Mr Chidambaram was never elected to Parliament in
2009. He has played a fraud on the nation. Our party candidate
won the election," she said.
Jayalalithaa was asked a question whether her party
has gone "soft" on the case filed by AIADMK candidate
Rajakannapan against Chidambaram's victory in Sivaganga
constituency in the 2009 elections.
The Chief Minister alleged that Chidambaram was
announced the successful candidate because of a fraud
committed by a data entry operator.
- Reacting to Jayalalithaa's statement, Chidambaram said
she has the habit of "starting on the wrong foot".
"She has always had utter contempt for court
proceedings and hence her statement today is not at all
surprising," he said in a statement.
He said "she knows that her candidate Rajakannappan
has filed an election petition in the Madras High Court and
that is pending since September 2009. Her statement, is
therefore in gross contempt of court."
The Home Minister said Rajakannappan had also
contested the Assembly elections last month and lost from one
of the segments falling under his parliamentary constituency
Sivaganga.
"Perhaps, she would say that that election result was
also fraudulent," he said.
Jayalalithaa was carping in her criticism of
Chidambaram while she chose to be soft on Congress and the
central government in response to various questions.
Meanwhile, Janata Party chief Subramanian Swamy on
Tuesday backed Jayalalithaa's comments that Chidambaram's
victory in 2009 elections was attained through "fraudulent"
means.
"I fully support and endorse the Tamil Nadu Chief
Minister J Jayalalithaa's statement today that Union Home
Minister P Chidambaram's election victory was a fraud on the
electorate," he said in a statement.