Southern States - Tamil Nadu

BJP to oppose one-post Bill

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI April 6 . The State BJP would remain ``equidistant'' from both the DMK and the AIADMK, but its five MLAs would stoutly oppose in the Assembly the proposed Bill barring legislators holding elected office in local bodies.

``Our party MLAs will be given suitable instructions to oppose the Bill (providing for one-MLA-one-post),'' the State BJP general secretary, L.Ganesan, told the media at the party headquarters here after launch of the BJP's golden jubilee celebrations. While the BJP favoured the principle of one-man-one-post, the ``timing and tenor'' of the Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa's announcement in the Assembly about the proposed Bill, appeared ``motivated'' and ``directed'' at the Chennai Mayor, M. K . Stalin. And, it would be ``wrong'' to give the proposed law a ``retrospective effect'', for the Government cannot subvert the verdict of one crore people of Chennai through a legislative measure.

Mincing no words on the issue, Mr. Ganesan said the Bill was only a climax of ``all the trouble'' given to Mr. Stalin, right from the elections in last October to the counting and declaration of results.

If the Government proposed to bring in such a Bill, it should set up a committee of legal experts to go into all aspects of the legislation. Asked if the proposed legislation signalled the resumption of politically vindictive acts by the ruling AIADMK, Mr. Ganesan quipped:``When did they stop (being vindictive) to start again?''

As for the DMK's decision to snap ties with the State BJP, Mr. Ganesan said the party was ``free'' now to take any decision on any issue including the coming byelections to the three Assembly constituencies. As for Mr. Karunanidhi's criticism of its support to the controversial RSS resolution, Mr.Ganesan said the party had planned to issue a detailed rejoinder. Also, the NDA convenor, George Fernandes, had made it clear that the BJP had long-time relations with the RSS and none could question it Asked if the DMK's decision to continue its friendship but not alliance with the State BJP gave scope for renewal of ties between the two parties, Mr. Ganesan said: ``They have kept the doors open. And we will reciprocate it.''

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