Party in fix as projecting Jaya as CM to hit its chances

CHENNAI, FEBRUARY 3: The most unpleasant part of today's Pleasant Stay Hotel verdict for AIADMK chief J. Jayalalitha is that her party may...

CHENNAI, FEBRUARY 3: The most unpleasant part of today’s Pleasant Stay Hotel verdict for AIADMK chief J. Jayalalitha is that her party may not be in a position to project her as the chief ministerial candidate in the Assembly elections due next year.

The conviction by the Special Judge in Chennai, who has sentenced her to a year’s RI means that the party has to quickly weigh its options for the Assembly by-polls to be held on February 17.

If her loyalists in the AIADMK stick to Amma as the party’s chief ministerial choice, the slight to her image caused by the verdict may rub off on the party also.

Story continues below this ad

Even if the Election Commission rules permit a person who has served out a jail term of less than two years to contest elections, the AIADMK is faced with two sticky questions: Should Jayalalitha still be their projected chief ministerial candidate? If not, then who, and whether the public will accept someone new so close to the polls.

Jayalalitha can now either remain party general secretary and controlministers if the AIADMK is voted to power; or she can seek a stay order on the conviction from a higher court and continue the legal battle while staying on as chief ministerial candidate, which will put the party’s prospects at risk. With judgments in other cases against Jayalalitha and her former cabinet colleagues yet to come, the AIADMK will also be hard-pressed to find an acceptable alternative. There are few in the top-line leadership not involved in these cases.