CHENNAI: Muted presence of AIADMK cadres outside former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa’s residence in Chennai on Monday morning turned into a flood post 11am as news of the dramatic verdict came. And the party almost immediately started preparing for her to take over as the Chief Minister again.

‘Amma’ was acquitted – her slate wiped clean and order on confiscated properties set aside by Judge Kumaraswamy of the Karnataka High Court. Firecrackers were burst, sweets distributed and hundreds of cadre of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) danced on the streets in joy.

“The verdict has shown that I have not committed any wrong,” said a victorious Jayalalithaa in a statement. “It has helped me emerge as gold further refined by fire.”


Celebrations begin as news of the verdict spreads

“It is a slap on the face of the DMK (Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam,” said Murali Krishna Prasad, Youth District Wing Secretary of the AIADMK. “The lesson is never try to put a false foisted case on innocent people,” he exulted.

This judgement paves the way for Jayalalithaa’s return as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu after seven months. While she can assume charge of the top post immediately, she will have to win an election for an Assembly seat within the next six months to ratify her post.

Jayalalitha was forced to step down in September 2014 as she was convicted in a corruption case for holding disproportionate wealth to the tune of Rs 58 crores. She was handed a four year jail sentence and a Rs 100 crore fine.

“This result goes to show how Amma lives in the hearts of every Tamilian,” said Murali K of the AIADMK Youth Brigade.


AIADMK cadres celebrate Jayalalitha’s acquittal

Not everyone is happy though.

Special Public Prosecutor in the case BV Acharya said that the case is not over yet. “After the new public prosecutor has been validly appointed, we were not given an opportunity to put forth oral arguments,” he said. “There is the serious prejudice against the prosecution. Even for the written submission we were given one day, which was not sufficient. The state of Karnataka has been prejudiced in conduct before the court. We have the option of going to Supreme Court,” he said.

“This is a black day for Indian judiciary,” said Prashant Bhushan, senior lawyer, reacting to the verdict.

The AIADMK’s main political rival, the DMK too reacted with controlled anger. “There is a higher court than the judiciary,” said DMK chief M Karunanidhi, in a statement following the verdict. “We must remember that the conscience is above all other courts.”

This verdict was crucial for the ruling AIADMK as Tamil Nadu goes to polls in 2016. The only face of the party is Jayalalithaa and if she had not been acquitted, the party would have suffered a severe setback.

“This is a big boost to the AIADMK,” said C Lakshmanan, professor at the Madras Institute of Development Studies. “The AIADMK now has a great future. This single point agenda is enough to win the next elections,” he said.

With Amma now back in the game, work for the elections is all set to begin and experts say that polls may even be advanced to ride the positive wave left behind by the verdict.

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