Acquittal makes Jaya invincible, big advantage for AIADMK, body blow to rivals

New Delhi: The AIADMK chief J Jayalalithaa's acquittal by the Karnataka High Court in a 19-year-old corruption case has come as a huge relief for Jayalalithaa and her party. It will make her the chief minister of Tamil Nadu once again enabling her to lead the party in the assembly election due in May 2016. The public prosecutor in the case also feels that there is no ground for appeal against the acquittal making Jaya's position formidable in the coming days.

The Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) BV Acharya expressed surprise over the judgement. Speaking to the media after the acquittal, he said "one can't predict court judgements."

This 19-year-old disproportionate assets case (DA) had been the biggest stumbling block for her. As she is off the hook, reenergised Jaya can launch powerful attack on her detractors and political rivals.

It has come as a huge setback for her main rival the DMK and other political parties in Tamil Nadu. The DMK with its wheelchair-bound 93-year-old leader M Karunanidhi leading the party once again may not be able to take on the might of Jaya led AIADMK.

The BJP which has been dreaming of making its mark in Tamil Nadu politics may have to change its strategy. Jayalalithaa will most probably go to polls alone without tying up with any other party.

After her conviction and stepping down as the chief minister of Tamil Nadu in last October, the administration had come to a standstill in TN. The 'reluctant' Chief Minister O Panneerselvam was just managing day-to-day affairs like a caretaker chief minister. After conviction and brief jailing Jayalalithaa was in a shock and was not showing much interest in the administration.

She is expected to return as the chief minister in a day or two after she gets the copy of the Karnataka High Court judgement. Ahead of the crucial assembly election election, she is expected to go overboard with her populist schemes.

Currently Tamil Nadu is left with no other mass leader who could take on Jayalalithaa. Karnunanidhi is too old and his faction ridden DMK is on the downswing. The other political parties are no match to Jayalalithaa's popularity and political acumen. Her conviction and brief jailing have got a wave a sympathy. Emotional Tamil voters may rally behind her once again.

An adverse judgement for Jayalalithaa would have altered the politics of Tamil Nadu in a big way. An acquittal has ensured that Jayalalithaa will have an upper hand and will pose a big challenge to all other political parties in Tamil Nadu.

Jayalalithaa's stocks will naturally go up in the national politics too. Both the BJP and Congress will actively woo her for political backing. But, Jayalalithaa is not expected to be carried away by such things. According to her inner circles, she has now become much wiser and a 'clean' Jaya would not be an easy person to handle.

It is a big win for Jayalalithaa. Almost like a second birth in politics for her. Her next steps and decisions will be very interesting.

After reading the copy of the judgment, Special Public Prosecutor in the case BV Acharya will give an opinion to Tamil Nadu vigilance and anti-corruption cell on whether an appeal should be filed in the Supreme Court or not. The prosecutor in this case is TN vigilance and anti corruption cell.

Karnataka government has no locus to file an appeal in this case. In case the TN government, through its vigilance and anti-corruption cell, does not file an appeal against the conviction of jayalalitha, DMK can file an appeal in the supreme court.

The DMK has a locus in the case because it was at their insistence that the case was transferred from Tamil Nadu to Karnataka. It was also again on DMK intervention in SC that the SPP was changed from Bhawani Singh to BV Acharya.

JAYA ACQUITTED - WHAT NEXT?

- Her most trusted aide and TN CM O Pannerselvam will quit. Jayalalithaa to return as CM immediately.

- Jaya to enter Assembly as an MLA again through a by-poll

- Huge victory for AIADMK ahead of assembly election in May 2016

- Big blow for main rival DMK and other opponents

WHAT HAPPENS TO THE CASE

- The Karnataka Government can challenge her acquittal in the SC

- TN Vigilance department has to challenge it. Even the DMK and Dr. Subramanian Swamy can challenge the acquittal.

- If the SC admits the appeal, Jaya to have anxious days again

Source : http://ibnlive.in.com/news/acquittal-makes-jaya-invincible-big-advantage-for-aiadmk-body-blow-to-rivals/544943-62-128.html