Southern States - Tamil Nadu

Legal battles will not deter me: Jayalalithaa
By Our Special Correspondent

The AIADMK general secretary, Jayalalithaa, addressing the media at her Poes Garden residence in Chennai, after the declaration of the Andipatti byelection results on Sunday morning.

CHENNAI, FEB. 24. Immediately after her election from Andipatti today, the AIADMK general secretary, Jayalalithaa, declared that she would not be deterred by legal battles.

``Having come thus far, do you think any other legal battle is going to deter me from achieving my goal. Whatever comes, I will face it,'' she told reporters. She had faced such battles in the last five years and she would continue to face them in the future.

To a question, she said there was never any doubt that the AIADMK Government would last its fullterm. ``The people have shown that they want me to stay.''

Asked about possible changes in the Cabinet, she said ``you would know this in a few days.'' On political realignments, she said she had won the election in Andipatti without any allies. At the same time, she was non-committal on realignments in the future.

Dwelling on the ``political significance'' of her victory, Ms. Jayalalithaa said: ``I do not think there has been any other political leader in India or abroad who has been subjected to this kind of victimisation. I had to face so many trials and tribulations. Five years ago, everyone had written me off, but we have proved all critics wrong. I think this victory will serve as a lesson in courage and endurance to everyone in future who may be subjected to hardship and difficulty.''

On the date of her swearing-in, Ms. Jayalalithaa said it would be a public function, and the date would be communicated later. (Official sources said it could be later this week.)

Ms. Jayalalithaa was all praise for the outgoing Chief Minister, Paneerselvam, who, she said, had shown a great sense of responsibility and devotion to duty. ``His conduct and performance during the past five months have been exemplary. He has won the praise of all with the sober manner in which he has conducted himself. I am duty-bound to state I have been blessed and fortunate to have such a devoted follower,'' she said. Asked what would be his role in the future, she countered: ``Why are you showing such haste?''

Later, in a statement, she said the victory had proved that the machinations of the DMK president, M. Karunanidhi, to subvert ``people's power'' would not succeed.

Later, Ms. Jayalalithaa said the Governor had invited her to form the Government, and she had sent her reply.

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