It was not an ordinary Monday in Chennai or in Tamil Nadu. No AIADMK worker worth his/her salt got a wink of sleep on Sunday night. Thousands of party activists and supporters spent the night in temples to perform special prayers (or homams) in the name of party supremo J Jayalalithaa. But, as the day progressed and TV channels flashed the news of Amma’s acquittal, unprecedented celebrations were witnessed as emotional party cadres were seen jubilating and the streets of Chennai reverberated with chants of “Amma… Amma… Amma.”
The spontaneity and scale of celebrations easily surpassed the revelry following the AIADMK’s stupendous win in the 2011 Assembly election and the party’s 2014 lok Sabha victory. CR Saraswathy, senior spokesperson of the party worshiped in all the temples in Chennai before rushing to Veda Nilayam — Jaya’s house at Poes Garden.
“By 11.30 am we will give you good news. Our Amma will win the case. She is the most honest person in this world,” said Saraswathi.
Hundreds had gathered in front of her house by 8 am. All were praying. Many of them had come with silver plates full of fruits and flowers which were offered to the presiding deities of the temples where they prayed in the morning. Avadi Kumar, another popular spokesman of the AIADMK was seen standing in front of Poes Garden praying to God Almighty for the success of his leader.
Most of the cadre with whom this reporter spoke to were not aware of the details of the case. “This was a conspiracy hatched by Karunanidhi and the DMK to finish off our Amma. They know that our Amma is unbeatable and unassailable. So they foisted false cases against her,” said Rama Ramanathan, the AIADMK activist from Kumbakonam.
The celebrations continued hours after chief minister O Paneerselvam and other ministers of his cabinet left Veda Nilayam. ‘Wait till tomorrow. You will see more celebrations at the party head quarters on Tuesday when Amma visits,” said Murali, a party activsist from suburban Tambaram.
The months of September and May and odd numbers have been a crucial factor in the political career of Jayalalaithaa. She became the chief minister for the first time in 1991. In the 1996 elections, Jayalalithaa and the AIADMK took severe drubbing in the hands of the DMK. But the May 2001 assembly election saw Jayalalithaa staging a come back and was sworn in as chief minister for the second time. But 2001 September saw the Supreme Court declaring null and void her swearing in as chief minister because of the TANSI land deal case conviction
Jayalalithaa, who was acquitted by the Madras High Court returned as chief minister in March 2002. The 2006 assembly election saw Jayalalithaa’s AIADMK getting defeated by the DMK. The assembly election held in April 2011saw Jayalalithaa sweeping the poll. Interestingly the results of the election were declared on May 2011.
Come September 2014. Jayalalithaa was unseated as chief minister and member of the legislative assembly by the Special Court in Bangalore in the disproportionate asset case. The next seven months was a political “Vanavas” for Jayalalithaa whioch got over on the 11th of May 2015 with the Karnataka High Court acquitting her of all charges.
Since 2015 is an odd number, chances are that Jayalalithaa, an ardent believer in numerology and astrology , would prefer an early snap poll. Her name itself is a proof of her belief in numerology. Earlier, she used to write her name as Jayalalitha. The additional a was added as per numerological advice.