Chennai, February 14 (The New Indian Express): The venue for the next big development in Tamil Nadu politics has moved to court number 6 at the Supreme Court, which is all set to deliver, on Tuesday morning, the long-awaited verdict on the disproportionate assets case in which AIADMK general secretary VK Sasikala, the unrelenting claimant for the chief minister’s post, is accused number two.
At 10.30 am, the bench comprising justices Pinaki Chandra Ghose and Amitava Roy will – separately – deliver the verdict; one which would decide Sasikala’s political future, the course of the ongoing rebellion by Chief Minister O Panneerselvam against her, and thus the State politics as such
Meanwhile, Attorney-General Mukul Rohatgi advised Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao to hold a composite floor test in the House within a week to decide who has the support of the MLAs – a final showdown between the Establishment and the rebels that the former has been seeking all along.
But it hinges on the outcome of the wealth case.
If convicted by both judges, Sasikala will be disqualified from contesting elections, marking the end of her quest to succeed late party leader and chief minister, J Jayalalithaa.
However, if either Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose or Justice Amitava Roy delivers a verdict acquitting her, the matter will then be referred to a third judge.
Other possibilities are that instead of conviction or acquittal, the bench could send the case back to the High Court or take a fresh look, or even order a fresh trial. Any decision other than conviction would buy crucial time for Sasikala to seek an immediate vote of confidence in the State Assembly.
