Oppn trying to scuttle polls, says Jayakumar 

He asserted that indirect elections for the posts of mayors and municipal chairpersons were held during the DMK regime too.

Talking to reporters at the airport here, he said under any circumstances the AIADMK would contest and win the local body elections. He also appealed to everyone to accept the good news that the much-awaited local body elections would be held.

On Opposition parties criticising the state government’s notification reverting back to hold indirect elections to the posts of mayors and chairperson of urban local bodies, Jayakumar said, “If you (Opposition parties) have popularity among the people, why don’t you contest? Let the people decide who should win.” He exuded confidence that the AIADMK would sweep the civic polls.

He also pointed out that indirect elections for the posts of mayor and chairpersons of urban local bodies were held during the 2006 DMK regime.

Defending the government’s decision to hold indirect polls, he said even the Prime Minister and Chief Ministers were being elected that way. Jayakumar said even in indirect elections to these posts, people would make their choice. “Like how the Prime Minister is elected by MPs and Chief Ministers by MLAs… there is nothing wrong in it,” he said.