Amma returns, again

J Jayalalithaa has returned as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister for the fifth time. Eight months ago she had resigned after a Special Court convicted her in a disproportionate assets case in a trial that took 18 years. The Karnataka High Court took eight months in acquitting her, based on a method of calculating her assets and earnings that has split the legal community. In the present case, the option of approaching the Supreme Court has not yet been exercised. This means Jayalalithaa's political fate still hangs in balance. With assembly elections less than a year away, she was keen to take over to reverse the lethargy that marked her replacement's eight months in office. 

But there is the possibility of either the Karnataka Government or Subramianiam Swamy, who had filed the case against her, appealing before the Supreme Court. Swamy, who is with the BJP, has stated his intention to appeal if Karnataka does not do so. The Karnataka Government says it is studying the judgment. Walking into this mist is Prime Minister Narendra Modi who sent a congratulatory message after her acquittal. Modi needs her party's support in the Rajya Sabha to push through the land acquisition Bill and the Goods and Services Tax Bill. 

The Congress government in Karnataka is looking for directions from the high command which is weighing the possibility of an alliance with Jayalalithaa. After picking a solitary Lok Sabha seat in Tamil Nadu, Modi too will be looking for more heavyweight allies than the conglomeration that had contested with the BJP in 2014. Perhaps it is time two things were done. One, the trials are done speedily, especially in light of Modi stating that fast-track courts should try politicians. Thereafter, a convicted person should be allowed to hold office till the entire appeals process is exhausted. Otherwise whether it was Lalu Prasad/ Amit Shah earlier or Jayalalithaa now, this bizarre drama will continue to be played out, impacting the quality of democracy we now have.