Chennai, Aug 29 (IANS) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa said Monday that she did not have the power to commute the death sentences of the three convicted in former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi's assassination case.

Various parties have approached her to intervene in the matter. "I don't have the power to commute the death sentence of the three," Jayalalithaa told the state assembly. "They should appeal to the President again."

Jayalalithaa charged former Chief Minister and DMK President M. Karunanidhi of double-speak on the issue.

On Aug 11, President Pratibha Patil rejected the mercy petitions of Murugan, Santhan and Perarivalan - all linked to LTTE and sentenced to death for involvement in the 1991 assassination. The three are to be hanged Sep 9.

Various political parties and other organisations are campaigning for the death sentences to be overturned.

A woman suicide bomber blew herself up at an election rally in Sriperumbudur near Chennai May 21, 1991, killing Gandhi, who was prime minister of India from 1984 to 1989.

Recalling the assassination, Jayalalithaa said the case was heard by TADA court here and a total of 26 persons were sentenced to death.

On appeal, the Supreme Court confirmed the death sentences to Perarivalan, Santhan, Murugan and his wife Nalini. The sentences of three others were were commuted to life. The remaining 19 had already served their their time in jail in their commuted sentences and were set free.

On Aug 12, 2011 the Union Home Ministry said the Indian President had rejected the clemency petitions of the three sentenced to death.

Expressing condolences to the family of Senkodi, who set herself afire Sunday to press for a commutation of the death sentences, Jayalalithaa appealed to the people not to resort to such acts.