Bangalore: Jayalalitha and 3 others Have been convicted under prevention of  corruptions act , she will resign as the CM, it is a huge set back for Tamil Nadu
Massive Security outside the court  All eyes are focused on the big verdict today- the 18-year-old corruption case against Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalitha. It is a case that could put her political future in jeopardy ahead of the 2016 Tamil Nadu Assembly polls.
TV Signals are being blackout in Tamil Nadu, Shops are being shut , Supporters of Jayalalitha are being laticharged outside the court.
History of the case-
In October 2011, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalitha was on her way to defend herself at a special court where she was on trial.
Three years and 358 witnesses later, the court is all set to give its verdict.
“There are so many irregularities between 1991 and 1996, from the time she assumed office. She had said that she would take one rupee as salary per month as a Chief Minister but the wealth amassed was crores of rupees,” said DMK leader TKS Elangovan.
In her three decade long political career, Jaya has faced many legal battles. She argued that this case is also a political conspiracy but the recent Supreme Court order on convicted politicians has made her worried.
Former special prosecutor against Jaya BV Acharya says that, “If there is a conviction under the prevention of corruption act, irrespective of the sentence, there will be disqualifications. One cannot become an MLA, the sentence is finally six years from the date of judgement. However, if the sentence is for a particular period of imprisonment, then after two years, again, a person will be disqualified for six years.”
A negative verdict will not be new for Jaya or her party, the AIADMK. In 2001, Jayalalithaa had given up the CM’s chair temporarily when she was convicted in the Tansi land case. She appointed a close aide O Paneerselvam to replace till she cleared her name.
Political analysts too, do not think that an adverse judgement is likely to have that adverse a consequence for Jaya or AIADMK.
“Even if the court convicts her, AIADMK is unlikely to desert her and move lock, stock and barrel to another leadership or to some other party. That is impossible. They are all tied to her and without Jayalalithaa they cannot win an election,” said Gnani Sankaran, a well-known political analyst in Tamil Nadu.
But analysts also say that a conviction for Amma could also open up the political space in Tamil Nadu ahead of the 2016 assembly elections. While the BJP hopes to gain a stronger foothold in the state, this case could also provide the right stage for a comeback for her arch-rivals, the DMK, which faced a rout last year.
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