When the Special Judge John Michael Cunha delivers the landmark judgment in the Rs 66.65 crore disproportionate assets case against Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa at a Special Court in Bangalore on Saturday, it could be creating history in the annals of Tamil Nadu politics. It denotes an end of a saga; of an almost 18-year long legal battle of the actor-turned-politician Jayalalithaa. If Saturday's judgment is going to be crucial to Tamil Nadu politics as per experts' predictions, it could totally alter the political equations in the state. It will also decide the very fate of AIADMK in the next assembly election. The case, registered by the Tamil Nadu directorate of vigilance and anti-corruption in 1997, states that Jayalalithaa and her three associates - her former close friend V K Sasikala, Sasikala’s nephew V N Sudhakaran and sister-in-law J Illavarasi - have acquired Rs 66.65 crore worth of assets by corrupt means between 1991-96 during Jayalalithaa’s first tenure as CM. If she is convicted on Saturday, Jayalalithaa will have to quit the Chief Minister's post. Jayalalithaa had faced a similar situation in 2001, during her second tenure as the Chief Minister, when Supreme Court ordered that she could not hold the post as she was found guilty of some criminal offences including TANSI case, in which she allegedly obtained property belonging to the state-owned agency. With her Z Plus security cover, Bangalore police is reportedly deploying over 6,000 security personnel besides coordinating with the Tamil Nadu police for security arrangements. “The security arrangements at a make-shift court facility at the Parappana Agrahara central prison is ready,” said an officer. Top intelligence officials from Tamil Nadu and close aids of Jayalalithaa are camping in Bangalore for last two weeks. Hoping for a major set back to the ruling party on Saturday, opposition parties including DMK, Vaiko's MDMK and Ramadoss's PMK have been loud enough to reveal their changing stands. Almost after three years, PMK leader Ramadoss met Karunanidhi at his residence on Wednesday in the pretext of inviting him for a relative's wedding. Denying reports of any major political discussion at the meeting, Ramadoss said Karunanidhi is the only leader who is politically refined. Meanwhile, social networking sites have been posting screen shots from DMK-run Kalaignar TV which surprisingly started giving decent space for their political opponent Vaiko. Last week, Vaiko had praised Karunanidhi at a party function. Not to be outdone, DMDK leader Vijayakanth has come out with an appeal to all opposition parties to unite against AIADMK. While the whole state is abuzz with predictions on Saturday's verdict, Jayalalithaa's followers are not worried. Prior to the judgement, hundreds of AIADMK leaders from different districts have already made a beeline to Bangalore. Police officials said the Karnataka police is gathering information about the movement of party cadres and they would be stopped at the Tamil Nadu and Karnataka border. “It has been made sure that almost all the ministers, MLAs, MPs and district level leaders will be there at Bangalore on Saturday to celebrate her victory,” said a senior AIADMK leader hoping that Jayalalithaa will be acquitted. A section of party cadres is also organising special pujas for Jaya's acquittal in popular temples and shrines in the state. MLA S K Selvam from Salem told The Indian Express that her followers have no doubt about her successful return from Bangalore. “She will win this case and there will be a historic victory in 2006 assembly elections too,” he said. He said he will be travelling to Bangalore along with a group of cadres on Friday.
