The conviction of AIADMK general secretary Jayalalithaa in the 18-year-old disproportionate assets case has come as a rude shock to the ruling party, casting a doubt over the 66-year-old leader’s political future ahead of the 2016 Assembly polls.
Jayalalithaa has earned the dubious distinction of becoming the first sitting Chief Minister in the country to be found guilty under the provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act and faces the prospects of being disqualified as MLA and losing power.
While a pall of gloom descended at the AIADMK headquarters at Royapettah, with some angry workers burning effigies of DMK leaders, the archrivals celebrated Jayalalitha’s conviction with scores of DMK workers thronging the headquarters Arivalayam as well as Karunanidhi’s residence.
The special court’s verdict pronouncing their leader ’Amma’ (Mother, as she is addressed by supporters) guilty crushed the diehard AIADMK supporters’ hope of her emerging unscathed in this case that was hanging over her head like the Damocles’ sword.
She had to step down as Chief Minister in 2001 when Supreme Court observed that she cannot hold office, as she was earlier sentenced in two corruption cases in 2000, which, however, was set aside later.
The verdict has come as a jolt to the ruling AIADMK as it had been enjoying a winning spree in all elections held since April 2011, when the party trounced DMK.
The party had put up a stellar performance in the Lok Sabha polls this year, winning 37 of the 39 states in the state, though its hopes of a pivot role in the Centre failed with the BJP mustering majority on its own.
