Woman attempts self immolation in front of Jayalalithaa's residence

CHENNAI: An AIADMK functionary and advocate P Lakshmi (32), hailing from Chinna Irumbadi village of Madurai district, attempted self immolation on Monday, disappointed that though she had applied for a ticket, party supremo J Jayalalithaa had not invited her for an interview at her residence.
The woman, who had unsuccessfully contested on an AIADMK ticket from Samayanallur constituency in Madurai district in the last assembly election, arrived at Jayalalithaa's Poes Garden bungalow around 8.30 am and doused herself with kerosene which she carried in a can.
Security personnel guarding Jayalalithaa's house gates stopped her from setting herself ablaze. Teynampet police, which picked her up, registered a case against her under IPC section 309, and released her later. She alleged that some senior leaders from the party had received bribes from aspirants for getting them an interview with Jayalalithaa and would not permit her to meet the party leader.
Lakshmi, who was the party's former deputy secretary, was hoping to get a ticket for the Sholinganallur constituency. In the previous assembly election, Lakshmi had lost Samayanallur constituency to DMK's R Tamilarasi by about 5,000 votes. Jayalalithaa has been holding interviews of prospective candidates at her residence, meeting just three people from each constituency.