(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) Jayalalithaa faces a conviction with a four-year sentence plus a Rs1 billion fine in the disproportionate assets case.
It was a nerve-wracking day for the ruling All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) in Tamil Nadu on Saturday as well as for its leader Jayalalithaa Jayaram chief minister of Tamil Nadu and a political heavyweight in Indian politics.
The suspense however was broken at around 3pm when details of the verdict trickled out of the barricaded Parappana Agrahara Court in Bangalore. Jayalalithaa faces a conviction with a four-year sentence plus a Rs1 billion fine in the disproportionate assets case. The other three accused — close aide Sasikala Natarajan foster son VN Sudhakaran and Sasikala’s niece Ilavarasi — face four years of rigorous imprisonment each with a Rs100 million fine.
As per a 2013 ruling by the Supreme Court Jayalalithaa is now automatically disqualified as a Member of the Legislative Assembly rendering her disqualified from holding the post of the chief minister. The verdict which will for the first time unseat a sitting chief minister is expected to have wide ramifications legally in the country.
The law also says that Jayalalithaa cannot contest elections for six years after the date of release from prison — meaning that if this verdict is upheld by the higher courts Jayalalithaa cannot contest an election for the next 10 years!
“We need a verdict like this to send a message to all political party leaders” political commentator Gnani told Khaleej Times. “It is not a harsh verdict it is a proportionate verdict and it is a fair verdict” he added.
This fall from grace sent Jayalalithaa into a tizzy literally. She was taken to a hospital within the court premises when she complained of dizziness as the verdict was announced. After a medical check-up Jayalalithaa was lodged in a jail within the Parappana Agrahara jail premises in Bangalore.
Violence broke out across Tamil Nadu in the afternoon as news of the verdict trickled out. AIADMK cadre who had in the morning sat outside her residence with boxes of sweets in anticipation of her acquittal went on a rampage pelting stones at public property and shops burning buses and forcing shops to down shutters in an impromptu bandh. One person in Virudhunagar died of burns after immolating himself. Media crews too were attacked by angry AIADMK cadre outside Jayalalithaa’s house in Chennai’s Poes Garden.
Reactions to the verdict were out even before the details were known. DMK’s heir apparent and party treasurer MK Stalin tweeted saying: “The verdict shows that howsoever high we may be the law is above us. The law has taken its course and truth has triumphed.”
Opposition leader and DMDK (Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam) chief Vijaykanth in a statement hailed the verdict. “This verdict is a lesson to wrong doers in the country” he said. “It shows that the law is equal for everyone.”
Political leaders also came together to condemn the violence by AIADMK cadre across the state. “Deterioration of law and order will affect the common man in the state” said Tamil Nadu Congress president BS Gnandesikan in a statement. “I believe that the police will do their duty and control the situation. I exhort the police to do their duty by the people” he said.
MDMK chief Vaiko too issued a statement hailing the verdict. “It is a warning bell for corrupt politics and a new dawn for honest politics” he said. “This verdict has taken the stature of the judiciary beyond the skies.”
“Tamil Nadu is in a situation where an honest election cannot be fought thanks to the accumulation of wealth and corruption” said Tamil Nadu BJP president Tamilisai Soundararajan. “The BJP fought against all these odds in the recently concluded local body polls. We hope that this verdict will usher in honest politics and honesty in elections as well” she added.
What next for Tamil Nadu
As per the Constitution of India in the absence of a chief minister Tamil Nadu is now governed by the Council of Ministers who will advise the Governor on the next move. The Legislature Party will meet soon and a new chief minister will be decided. Senior leaders within the AIADMK who did not want to be named said Finance Minister O Panneerselvam is likely to be the next CM-in-waiting. Other names doing the rounds are that of Senthil Balaji and Advisor to the Tamil Nadu government Sheela Balakrishnan.
Following the verdict Tamil Nadu Governor Rosaiah convened a meeting with the state police chief Ramanujam Chief Secretary Mohan Verghese Chunkath and Chennai City Police Commissioner S George to deliberate on the law and order situation in the state. “The officers apprised the governor of the measures taken to prevent spread of untoward incidents in the state” said a statement from the governor’s office. “The governor instructed the officers to prevent any further incidents and to ensure that the law and order is maintained in the state” it said.
“AIADMK will not lose power as they have a majority so they need a proxy ruler” said Gnani. “Jayalalithaa will go for appeal but her conviction may not be stayed although sentence could be stayed. She cannot contest elections but she will control the party once she is outside prison. The party needs her she needs the party” he opined.
Political observers also say that this is the beginning of a new political demographic in Tamil Nadu. “It is a gift for opposition parties as they can now hound the AIADMK with this case” added Gnani. “The DMK will gain a lot but not the rest of the parties. The BJP will try to cash in on this and say that we are the alternative but BJP will not make much of a gain since they are very weak in Tamil Nadu” he said.
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