No relief for Jaya

The refusal of bail by the Karnataka High Court to former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa is a serious setback, legally and politically for her. The country’s third largest in terms of Lok Sabha seats, and one with high level of development, the state may be in for prolonged turmoil. The prosecution had no objection to bail. But the court rejected bail, saying: “No grounds for suspension of Jayalalithaa's sentence, Supreme Court is clear; corruption has to be dealt strictly.” Reflecting the nation’s mood against graft indulged by people in high places, particularly the politicians, this sums up the situation as of now.

Detained for long, Jayalalithaa has to fight battles ahead on many fronts. The case relating to her possessing disproportionate assets for which she has been convicted and other cases will go on. She has to get herself cleared in all cases, and that is a prolonged affair with likely numerous twists and turns, given their political nature. Her lawyers and advisors would have to work harder to challenge today’s high court verdict. Her conviction is indication enough that she, her three co-accused and her advisors have not bothered to, or not been able to, cover the track and have attracted ire of the law.

Jayalalithaa’s detention has demonstrated her hold on the state and her personal popularity. The jubilation caused by the wrong news put out by newspaper websites, that she had been granted conditional bail, turned into remorse after half an hour when an adverse verdict was out finally and officially. Whether her detention generates any kind of sympathy factor come assembly polls in 2016, and if she will retain that level of popularity while in detention remains to be seen, notwithstanding her numerous pro-poor welfare ventures.

AIADMK is a one-person show, allowing no second line of leadership. There is a lesson for other parties who are run similarly. That includes Jayalalithaa’s opponents and critics for whom today’s verdict should provide relief. Emotions have run across Tamil Nadu with people expressing their anger at the detention of their leader. This is understandable, except that it has taken violent turn. Even committing suicide is bad, besides being illegal.

Posters have appeared threatening to harm the Kannadigas in Tamil Nadu should the Karnataka High Court deliver an adverse judgment. The types of slogans and threats raised in Tamil Nadu against the Kannadigas are likely to keep political atmosphere on the boil. It is necessary that Jayalalithaa issues an appeal for calm from jail and her party’s government ensures peace in the state.