Jayalalithaa hits by-poll campaign trail

Facing flak over the grim power situation in the state, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on Wednesday assured that the scenario would improve from June with the completion of various projects and a total capacity addition of 1950 mw.

"Power generation is being given high priority and I am giving special focus to this," she said at an election rally in support of party candidate S Muthuselvi for the March 18 by-poll to Sankarankoil assembly constituency.

Power plants in North Chennai, Vallur and Mettur were on the fast track and the government had taken efforts to ensure 1,950 mw by June and another 600 mw by October, ensuring 2,550 mw of power by the year-end, she said.

"The power shortage will start declining from June. Our efforts to buy power during this period have proved futile following congestion in the transmission corridor," she said while speaking about the issue, which she had recently taken up with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Referring to reports about India planning to support Sri Lanka in the United Nations Human Rights Council against a US-sponsored resolution against Colombo for alleged war crimes, she remarked sarcastically, "This is the concern of the Congress towards Tamils."

The chief minister, who is on a whirlwind tour of the constituency as part of her campaign schedule, recalled the various welfare measures being implemented by her government.

By-polls to the constituency in Tirunelveli District has been scheduled after the death of Minister C Karuppasay in October.