Congress MP comes out openly in 'moral support' of Jayalalithaa

Sulking Rajya Sabha Congress MP P Kannan on Monday came out openly in support of extending "moral support" to jailed AIADMK supremo Jayalalithaa, saying her conviction in a wealth case was not a political setback to her, but she would scale greater heights. "I am extending moral support to her and may meet her any time. There is no setback to Jayalalithaa politically due to her conviction in a wealth case. Her popularity on the other hand will enhance several fold and public sympathy and support to her has also risen to a greater level," he told reporters here.

Kannan made it clear he was not expressing any view on the verdict of the special court in Bangalore, sentencing Jayalalithaa to four year imprisonment and Rs 100 crore fine in the disproportionate assets case. Asked whether he would demonstrate his moral support in action and sit on a fast, he said, "I need not observe fast to show my moral support." He opined that various schemes and pro-poor programmes evolved and implemented by Jayalalithaa as Chief Minister are worthy of emulation at the national level.

He defended his stance on expressing moral support, saying he had every right to voice his views on any matter as an MP. Kannan, who has been sidelined by the party, has not been attending any party functions for quite some time. The MP alleged that Congress in Puducherry had been damaged so much that the party was fast losing ground.