Support under review: Jaya

CHENNAI, Aug 27 (PTI) — AIADMK supremo J Jayalalitha today said the question of her party’s support to the Vajpayee ministry "is still under review’’ and asserted she would not "bow to anyone.’’

She told presspersons here that no timeframe could, however, be set for completing the review of support.

"I had earlier said AIADMK’s support to the BJP-led government at the Centre was under review, "Ms Jayalalitha said adding it is still under review.’’

Asked how long the AIADMK would take to review support to the Vajpayee ministry, she said "I cannot set a time-frame for it"

Replying to a question, Ms Jayalalitha said she did not think there was any move by the BJP at present to drop the party from the ruling coalition at the Centre.

Even if the AIADMK was expelled from the alliance, the party had the strength to go it alone, she said.

"As far as the AIADMK is concerned, it is a strong party and we have the strength to stand alone under any circumstances. The AIADMK will not bow or kowtow to anyone.’’

Answering another question, Ms Jayalalitha ruled out any alliance with the Congress right now saying that "as of now we are still with the (Vajpayee) government.’’

On why she had not responded to BJP leader Pramod Mahajan, who had dared her to name him as the one who had taken bribes to get enforcement director M.K. Bezbaruah transferred, she said "AIADMK is a mature and responsible party and does not have to answer to any Tom, Dick and Harry."

Blaming the media for speculation that the AIADMK might withdraw support to the Vajpayee ministry, she said she had not made any remark that could be construed as the "withdrawal of support".

On whether her frequent statements about "reviewing" support would not lead to political uncertainty, she said she had talked about it at her press conference on August 10 in response to a specific question.

It was the media speculation about this that had led to uncertainty, Ms Jayalalitha, who was attending the wedding ceremony in a family of a partyman, said.

Felicitating the newly-weds, she harped on the "betrayal of Tamil Nadu’s interests" on the Cauvery issue.