TN to counter centre's review plea on convicts' release

The review petition filed in the Supreme Court by the centre on the Tamil Nadu government's decision to release the seven convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case would be countered, Chief Minister J.Jayalalithaa said here Monday.

AIADMK general secretary Jayalalithaa, who turned 66 Monday, also announced the party's candidates for the 39 Lok Sabha constituencies in Tamil Nadu and the lone Puducherry constituency.

She added that some of the candidates will be withdrawn once the seat sharing agreement is concluded with the two left parties.

"We are satisfied with the two allies," Jayalalithaa told the media.

Queried about the government's recent decision to release the seven convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case as a political decision, she said the matter is in the court and the state government would do what ever it has to do legally.

Jayalalithaa said the government would say in the court what ever it has to say on the matter.

Asked whether the state government would ask for special assistance from the centre as the latter has announced a package for Seemandhra, she said: "We will get whatever we want from the new government. This is an outgoing government."

Jayalalithaa said the AIADMK's poll manifesto is under preparation and the party's campaign theme would be elaborated in that.

She said the core campaign theme will be peace, prosperity and progress not only to Tamil Nadu but also of the whole nation.