Political crisis brews in Tamil Nadu

A major political crisis seems to be brewing between Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalitha and the Government of India over statements made by MDMK Central Minister M Kannappan supporting the banned Sri Lankan terrorist organisation, the LTTE.

In a letter addressed to Vajpayee, Jayalalithaa threatened that "in the event of the Prime Minister not taking action due to compelling political reasons, the state will be constrained to take action, given the gravity of the matter".

She said in the letter: "The State government cannot be a silent spectator when a Central Minister undermines the law whenever he visits the state with open declarations that he cannot be touched". She asked the Prime Minister to remove Kannappan from his cabinet "in the interest of the nation".

Kannappan, had at a meeting in Coimbatore on September 16 declared his party's allegiance to the LTTE. Kannappan is in Thiruchengode today. There was speculation Jayalalitha might order his arrest under POTA even before he reaches Chennai en route to New Delhi.