J Jayalalithaa, who was convicted in a corruption case and sentenced to four years on Saturday, is expected to move the Karnataka High Court for bail on Monday. Hours later, at a designated hour, her loyal aide O Panneerselvam is to be sworn in as Chief Minister in her place.
Jayalalithaa may have to spend at least another day in jail as her bail plea is likely to be taken up by a vacation bench of the court only on Tuesday.
Sources in Jayalalithaa’s AIADMK party say she is taking major decisions from jail; the party is waiting for her to approve the ministerial rejig after Panneerselvam’s takeover.
Panneerselvam, 63, who was the state finance minister, will take over for the second term as chief minister, in similar circumstances. In 2000, he was handpicked by Jayalalithaa when she had to step down after being convicted a land scam.
Panneerselvam was among the few party men who went to meet Jayalalithaa at Bangalore’s Central jail on Sunday. Questions have been raised about whether he will operate as a proxy ruler for Jayalalithaa, who is known to take all decisions in the party and before whom ministers are said to prostrate themselves.
Jayalalithaa, who is prisoner number 7402 in the Bangalore jail, has been receiving a constant stream of visitors since she was convicted and sentenced to four years in jail on Saturday.Â
In a 910-page order, the court also asked her to pay Rs 100 crore fine.
The 66-year-old controversial politician was held guilty of amassing illegal wealth, including 28 kg gold, property worth crores, 750 pairs of shoes and 10,000 saris, Â in the case that she has always dismissed as politically motivated.
A Supreme Court ruling of last year disqualifies her as a lawmaker. She also cannot contest elections for 10 years.
Members of AIADMK will on Monday protest outside the residence of Jayalalithaa’s arch rival M Karunanidhi, the chief of the DMK, which pursued the case against her.Â
Jayalalithaa’s supporters have protested in Chennai and Bangalore over the weekend. Hundreds of AIADMK workers have damaged vehicles and burnt effigies of rivals in street protests. Women protesters have been seen screaming, wailing and throwing themselves on the ground.
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