Jaya hints at bigger role in national politics

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on Wednesday hinted that she might want to play a bigger role in national politics.

The All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam chief said there was nothing wrong in her entering national politics "if the opportunity comes and circumstances so warranted".

Addressing the in-camera two-day AIADMK general council meeting, she said she would take whatever opportunities came her way to the fullest. Party cadres would have to work tirelessly to ensure that this became a reality, she said.

Referring to complaints from partymen about the non-cooperative attitude of officials in redressing the grievances of the public, she said the bureaucracy has been 'totally demoralised' during the previous DMK regime. It would take some time to 'revive' their morale, she said.

Taking a dig at her rival and DMK president, M Karunanidhi, she said everybody was under the impression that he was a man with political acumen and a 'Chanakya'. He was a good literary figure, but definitely not a 'Chanakya', she maintained. 

Jayalalithaa said she had thought of quitting politics many times, but was time and again forced to reconsider her decision as Karunanidhi had filed a number of cases against her.