CHENNAI: AIADMK senior and State Fisheries Minister D. Jayakumar accused the opposition parties in Tamil Nadu of “conspiring” to prevent the local bodies elections and asserted that his party which had faith in democracy would fight it out and win the civic polls.
“The announcement that local bodies elections would be held soon should have been a cause to be happy but the opposition parties construe otherwise. They are determined to prevent the conduct of the elections,” Mr. Jayakumar said on Thursday.
Speaking to reporters here he said, unlike them, the AIADMK had faith in democracy and it would contest and win the civic elections. Urging everyone to accept the good news that the elections would be held any time, the senior AIADMK leader said, “If you (opposition parties) are popular among the people, then why don’t you contest? Let the people decide whom they want to win.”
Mr. Jayakumar pointed out that indirect elections for the posts of mayor of corporations and chairpersons of municipalities had been held even during the DMK regime in 2006.
He said such a system would only pave way for stability of the civic bodies.
Defending the government ordinance brought out on Tuesday promulgating indirect elections (wherein the elected councillors of urban local bodies elect the mayor or chairperson) for mayors and chairpersons, he said the decision had the sanction of the constitution.
“Even in the case of Prime Minister and Chief Minister, they are elected by the party’s elected members. This practice exists in a democratic set-up,” he reiterated. Even in indirect elections to these posts, people would make their choice. “There is nothing wrong in this,” he added.
