Tamil Nadu: Jayalalithaa
returns as CM amid uncertainty as faulty HC judgment is likely to go Supreme
Court!
-Dr. Abdul Ruff Colachal
______________
History repeats itself in Tamil Nadu politics, eminently controlled by
cinema world. And, certainty turns uncertainty and vice versa as in films.
Nearly eight months after she was forced to
quit over corruption charges, film star turned politician and the ruling AIADMK
supremo Jayalalithaa was on 23rd May sworn in for the fifth
time as Tamil Nadu chief minister along with 28 ministers. Her choice of date
coincides with BJP party’s celebrations for completing one full year in power
of India. The swearing-in ceremony took
place at the Madras University Centenary Auditorium in the presence of governor
Rosaiah, film personalities, and cricket bosses, among other dignitaries.
Jayalalithaa was disqualified following her conviction in the Rs 66.66
crore disproportionate assets case by a trial court in Bengaluru on September
27. The Karnataka High Court had subsequently acquitted her of the charges on
May 11 this year. She is beaming
that she was today sworn in for the fifth time as chief minister - a milestone in her political story- , nearly
eight months after she was forced to quit over corruption charges.
Jayalalithaa has retained old faces when
she was chief minister during 2011-14. This includes her trusted aide O
Panneerselvam as Minister of Finance. Jayalalithaa will hold the portfolios of
home, police, public, all India services, general administration and district
revenue officers. (Tamilnadu has huge back money in active circulation and will
she be able take action? Or, will she end corruption in government offices? )
One day earlier, O Panneerselvam quit as CM,
making way for his “Amma” to resume power. An
official Raj Bhavan release had said that on May 22 the TN Governor Rosaiah had
approved the recommendation made by Selvi J Jayalalithaa, Chief
Minister-Designate regarding allocation of portfolios among the Council of
Ministers.
Panneerselvam was sworn-in as Chief
Minister on September 29 last year, two days after Jayalalithaa's conviction.
He had returned to the post for a second time after he was chosen by
Jayalalithaa as her successor almost under similar circumstances in 2001 in the
wake of her conviction in the TANSI case. Panneerselvam had resigned six months
later in 2002, when she was acquitted by the apex court. His resignation today
ended eight-month tenure.
Much before the AIADMK legislature meeting,
party workers and supporters from all over the state had started gathering in
huge numbers at Avvai Shanmugam Salai, the AIADMK headquarters. Before he
announced his resignation as chief minister, Panneerselvam met Jayalalithaa
briefly. Large hoardings hailing the party leader's return had been put up in
several parts of the city. DMK leaders
feel they have defeated their arch rival DMK by the court order.
Security men, who were perched on either
side of her vehicle, and the police had a tough time preventing the crowd from
coming too close to the cavalcade as a smiling Jayalalithaa accepted their greetings.
Preparations have been afoot since Thursday to deck up the venue of the
swearing-in ceremony. After her conviction, Jayalalithaa was automatically
disqualified as an MLA. Recently, an MLA resigned from RK Nagar constituency in
the city raising speculation that she may contest from there.
Even as AIADMK supremo the 67-year-old Jayalalithaa returned to power
in Chennai for the fifth time 11 days after she was
acquitted by the Karnataka High Court in a disproportionate assets case, Congress party’s Karnataka
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said the state law department is
examining the judgment of the High Court which acquitted her of all charges and
the government would take a decision on filing an appeal in the case after
receiving the report. Asked whether he has spoken to AICC in this regard, the
chief minister said, "No, the High command is not at all interfering in
the state matters".
Jayalalithaa knows too well that she is back to the Madras Fort office
to rule Tamil Nadu anytime she may have to quit again as assets case would now
go to Supreme Court since the Karnataka High Court judgment is faulty with
wrong arithmetic and the judge himself has already admitted to have committed
errors that he can correct if allowed.
Jayalalithaa’s return to power is
significant because she has successfully pursued all tactics to get her 4 year
jail term by influencing the judiciary with judge quashing the case once for
all.
In taking over the reign in Chennai, Jayalalithaa’s calculations are clear: even if she has to quit again if Supreme
court gives a verdict against her
disproportionate assets, her brief
tenure back as CM could help make the party ready with new vigor for state elections
next year.
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