Ms Jayalalitha’s two demands for continued support - the reinstatement of Navy chief Vishnu Bhagwat and transfer of Defence minister George Fernandes to a “less sensitive ministry” - were rejected by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Jayalalitha says that Mr Fernandes continued to support the LTTE after becoming India’s Defence Minister in March last year. Mr Fernandes sacked Admiral Bhagwat in March allegedly to safeguard India’s long-term security interests and accusing him of defying cabinet orders.
Observers say Ms Jayalalitha’s real motive was to prop Sonia Gandhi, the leader of the Congress Party, to become Prime Minister. Ms Jayalalitha who faces over 45 corruption charges, including money-laundering and income tax irregularities, had been demanding the BJP government to dissolve the ruling DMK state government in Tamil Nadu. If found guilty, she would be disqualified for six years from contesting any election. The BJP refused to sack the DMK. An agreement with the Congress and the removal of the DMK may facilitate the burial of the corruption charges.
After the government fell, Jayalalitha and Sonia Gandhi sought support to form a new government. The left parties and Uttar Pradesh strongman Mulayam Singh Yadav’s Samajwadi Party refused to join a Congress-led coalition. There was also reluctance to join an alliance which includes the AIADMK.
Sonia Gandhi informed President KR Narayanan on 25 April that Congress could not form an alternate government. Attempts to form a government led by the Marxist Communist Party leader Jyoti Basu also failed. President Narayanan dissolved the Lok Sabha on 26 April and called for national elections.
In the light of events in New Delhi realignment of political forces in Tamil Nadu now seem inevitable. Political changes in India will have their impact on Sri Lanka, particularly in view of India’s regional strategic concerns.