Jaya verdict may hit political scene

Jaya verdict may hit political scene
PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

Chennai, Oct 11: Politics in Tamil Nadu has taken a `curious turn' following the conviction of AIADMK supremo Jayalalitha in the TANSI land deal case, which might trigger off realignments of political forces in the state, senior BJP leader and Union Rural Development Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said here today.

He told reporters that Jayalalitha's conviction and former Prime Minister P V Narashima Rao's conviction in the JMM bribery case would alter the political situation at the national level also.

However, these verdicts would not undermine the importance of Congress, which was an alternative to the BJP at national level and AIADMK the alternative to the DMK in the Tamil Nadu.

Venkaiah said verdicts had clearly stated the days of accountability of politicians had come back and the rule of law was `catching up' with the politicians. `By these developments the health of the democracy would improve further', he said.

The opposition parties in Tamil Nadu should make their stand clear, as it was not a mere question of political alliance alone as a political realignment was likely to take place here also, he said.