#JayaVerdict: Why Jayalalithaa's acquittal is a blessing for Tamil Nadu

Bengaluru, May 11: The acquittal of AIADMK chief J Jayalalithaa is perhaps a blessing in disguise for Tamil Nadu in terms of governance. [Follow updates on Jaya's conviction]

Had the former chief minister's conviction been upheld by the Karnataka High Court on Monday, governance in the state would have faced a serious challenge under an untested O Panneerselvam. [Jaya acquitted: What Twitter said]

Administrative functioning slowed down

The administrative functioning of the state was slowed down alarmingly after Jayalalithaa's conviction, said those who are closely attached to it. Not many ministers were working, the assembly was not functioning, files were slowing down as everybody was waiting for Amma to show them the way. [Jaya acquitted: What Sri Lankan media said]

But since she was under a legal compulsion, it was not possible for each and every bureaucrat to meet her and seek advice. The result was showing on the growing administrative inertia.

Opposition was putting more pressure on AIADMK

Opposition DMK also mocked the state of governance and la year ahead of the next assembly election, only Jayalalithaa's return could have helped the AIADMK's prospects for there is no second leader to guide the state.

To give a few examples of how Jayalalithaa's absence has seriously hurt Tamil Nadu's governance, completed projects like the Metro Rail are waiting for Jayalalithaa for flagging off. A global business meet has also been deferred twice and is now scheduled for September.

Internal rift was shaping up in Jayalalithaa's absence

Although the ruling AIADMK is trying to show that nothing is wrong as is being perceived, not everybody is happy in its ranks. Panneerselvam has his own critics and if Jaya's conviction was upheld, the cracks were bound to widen, creating a serious vacuum in the state's politics.

However, all those anti-Jaya elements who were fancying their chances in the next assembly election after the 67-year-leader was convicted last year, will now be an unhappy lot.