Jayalalitha barred from Tamil Nadu assembly elections

Election officials yesterday rejected the nomination papers filed by former Tamil Nadu chief minister Jayalalitha Jayaram of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), effectively barring her from fighting the forthcoming Assembly elections.

Jayalalitha's nomination papers from Krishnagiri and Andipatti Assembly constituencies in Tamil Nadu as well as the constituencies of Pudukkottai and Bhuvanagiri, filed on her behalf, were rejected by the returning officers when applications were scrutinised yesterday.

"Former Chief Minister J. Jayalalitha's nominations in all four constituencies of Andipatti, Krishnagiri, Bhuvanagiri and Pudukottai have been rejected by the concerned returning officers," K.S. Jaya, election officer for Krishnagiri constituency announced.

The two applications filed by the feisty Tamil leader were also rejected on the basis of the Election Commission's order of August 1997 that persons convicted and sentenced for more than two years, specifically on corruption charges, would stand disqualified from contesting for six years from the date of conviction. The two other applications were rejected since one person is not allowed to contest from more than two constituencies.

Jayalalitha is battling to overturn a local court verdict under which she was found guilty of misuse of office and graft when she was chief minister of the state between 1991 and 1996. She was also sentenced by the local court judge last year to two separate terms of hard labour, one for two years and another for three years. She has been ordered to appear in person in another corruption case before the court on May 15.

Angry AIADMK supporters resorted to a road blockade at Krishnagiri soon after the Returning Officer announced her decision, but were dispersed by the police who were out in strength all over the state. Shops and buses were damaged in Chennai. Some 300 protesters were arrested. The situation elsewhere in the state was reported to be peaceful.

Jayalalitha herself continued her campaign in Pudukkottai district. In Chennai, DMK Chief and TN Chief Minister Karunanidhi said that he had no fear of any sympathy wave in favour of Jayalalitha, whom poll analysts had predicted could turn the tables on the DMK in an anti-incumbency wave.