Jayalalitha Says AIDMK Would Pick Next PM Candidate

AIADMK general secretary and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalitha on Friday declared that the party will be in a position to decide the next prime ministerial candidate and called her party cadres to start working for the Parliament elections.

She also warned them of severe action if "they are in touch with traitors".

Speaking at the party's general council meeting on the outskirts of the city, Jayalalitha said: "Days are not far off when AIADMK would go beyond Tamil Nadu and achieve great things at the national political arena." She said it was the party's golden period in 1998 when it extended support to the BJP enabling Atal Bihari Vajpayee to become the prime minister. The BJP was able to capture power at the Centre for the first time, she said.

Jayalalitha declared the time is again ripening for the party to decide the prime ministerial candidate and "we will be there in the next government at the Centre".

She said at that point the party will be in a position to facilitate decisions that would not impinge on the rights of Tamil Nadu and the national unity, and urged the party cadres and leaders not to be complacent after the victories in the assembly and local body elections.