J Jayalalithaa, who was acquitted in a corruption case on Monday, is set to return as the chief minister of Tamil Nadu. The swearing-in could be held on May 17, an auspicious date, said sources in her party, the AIADMK. There is even speculation that the ruling party could seek early elections in the state. The verdict "has paved the way for me to emerge as tested pure gold," Jayalalithaa has said.
There are indications that current chief minister O Panneerselvam will step down on May 16. Once he resigns, the AIADMK is expected to elect Jayalalithaa as leader of its legislative party, after which she can ask the state governor to swear in her new government.
Panneerselvam met Jayalalithaa at her Chennai residence soon after the High Court upheld her appeal against her conviction by a trial court. The conviction meant she was disqualified as a lawmaker and will have to contest elections within six months of being sworn in as chief minister. There is buzz that she could choose to have early elections, where assembly polls are due next year.
Jaya acquitted of all charges
Earlier, a special bench of the Karnataka High Court set aside the trial court order convicting Jayalalithaa in the disproportionate assets case. Justice C R Kumaraswamy, who read out the judgment, said the appeals of all the four accused, including Jayalalithaa, have been allowed and they were being acquitted of all charges.
With this, a case that had panned out over 18 tortuous years was over within seconds. Jayalalithaa was acquitted, less than a year after she was sentenced to four years and a fine of Rs 1 billion in the disproportionate assets case.
The other three accused and acquitted were Jayalalithaa’s close aide Sasikala Natarajan and the latter’s relatives J Elavarasi and V N Sudhakaran.
It is now left to the State of Karnataka to appeal against this verdict. But the original complainant - Subramanian Swamy - can also appeal, as can DMK general secretary K Anbazhagan (the intervenor in this case) who got it transferred to Karnataka and whose submissions were part of the record during trial and appeal.
