JOIN USNo heartbreaks for cadres this time
The agonising wait of little over seven months was over on Monday for AIADMK cadres, who celebrated the Karnataka High Court’s order acquitting party chief Jayalalitha in the disproportionate assets case.
Braving hot weather, party workers, senior functionaries and state ministers converged on Jayalalitha’s Poes Garden residence ahead of the verdict on Monday.
Soon after the news of the acquittal, the crowd set off some crackers, distributed sweets and hollered slogans in praise of Jayalalitha.
Women cadres danced to the drumbeats in front of her residence, chanted “long live Amma,” and broke coconuts as a sign of driving out evil.
Similar scenes were witnessed at AIADMK headquarters at Chennai’s Royapetta area. Legislators and ministers carried Jayalalitha’s portrait along with the party flag and shared their joy with the junior functionaries by dancing with them.
“Our prayers did not go waste,” said a party cadre. “(The acquittal) is victory for justice.”
Cadres from different districts arrived in the city a day before the verdict with the hope that the acquittal would confirm Jayalalitha’s return to the chief minister’s chair.
“This is the day I waited for,” senior party functionary C K Vilvam said while waiting outside the AIADMK office.
“I was clueless as to what would happen to Amma. Now my mental agonies have gone and I am totally happy,” he added.
Party supporters also celebrated the court verdict across the metro and in other parts of Tamil Nadu.
Soon after the judgement, Chief Minister O Panneerselvam and his senior colleagues visited Poes Garden to discuss the next course of action with Jayalalitha.
Party sources said the emergency meeting was convened to decide details on Panneerselvam’s resignation as Chief Minister to allow Jayalalitha’s reinstatement to the position she held until September last year.
Party functionaries and ministers have been holding special prayers in temples and churches across the state seeking divine intervention in favour of Jayalalitha.
Last October, celebrations turned into heartbreak as Jayalalitha’s bail plea in Karnataka High Court was rejected.
The Special Court’s decision to set aside the charges against Jayalalitha comes as a boost to AIADMK’s electoral prospects. Speculations are also rife that the Assembly polls due next year could be brought forward.