Kancheepuram (TN): Union Minister P Chidambaram has ridiculed AIADMK chief Jayalalithaa's reported remark that the Assembly polls had been announced all of a sudden instead of the anticipated date, saying elections in the country come at "predictable intervals of five years".
"Being a democracy, elections here come only at predictable intervals of five years. There are no precipitating factors as in Tunisia and Libya, making
elections uncertain or sudden. It is this well established democratic system in India that is adding luster to this country," Chidambaram said.
The 2006 Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu were held in May. Asked why there was no joint campaigning with alliance parties, Jayalalithaa had told reporters recently that they had originally planned a 40-day campaign but elections were announced all of a sudden.
Campaigning for the Congress candidate Yasodha at Sriperumbudur here yesterday, Chidambar am said the DMK government had implemented the promises it listed in the 2006 election manifesto like distribution of free TVs and gas stoves. It was countered with derision during the campaign then that the promises would not be fulfilled, he said.
But the government fulfilled all these promises and added a free insurance scheme also, he said. As a result the party which made fun of the promises last
time has settled down to copy the same this election, much like students copying during school exams, he said apparently referring to the AIADMK manifesto.
Chidambaram also addressed a meeting at Kunrathur canvassing for TM Anbarasan, DMK candidate for Pallavaram. Elections to the Tamil Nadu Assembly are being held on April 13 along with Kerala and Puducherry.
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