News Desk :It happened to Jaylalitha Jairam, now dramatically back to Chief Ministership of Tamil Nadu – a prosperous Indian state. She was just acquitted of charges of amassing disproportionate wealth illegally. And practically the whole state was in cheer as the news of her acquittal broke out! Most were under her spell as once famous MGR– G. Ramchandran, her mentor, used to keep the state under his charm.In politics, Jaylalitha has successfully manipulated all the populist elements that turned out wonder of wonders. The Tamil Nadu people consider her as a demi-goddess and they are ready to sacrifice their life even for their beloved Amma. With her movie star image she has become virtual Amma (mother) to all and they say `Long live Amma.’ This is what makes her indestructible politician.Deity’s charisma has blended curiously with revolutionary ideals. As a high caste Brahmin she is while her mentor MGR a revolutionary opposite who talked forcefully against Brahmin domination and made his case with the Dravidian untouchables majority of the state, she rose yet managed most successfully to the occasion to win the heart of people with her strange alchemy. Much of her style of rule comes directly from MGR playbook: populist, authoritarian and mystical. It is of note that the rule in Tamil Nadu by G. Ramchandran (AIDMK), Karunanidhi(DMK) and the present incumbent constitute, in fact, a troika of the dramatis personne and that movie personalities did and still are doing political wonders while the state stayed prosperous to the chagrin of the classical politicians!As head of AIDMK, Jaylalitha succeeded in pushing away her archrival and one time ally in DMK Karunanidhi with staggering support from her loyalists. In cities, her party members line the avenues with giant Jaylalitha billboards to prove their blind fealty. The head of traditional politicians spins the way Jaylalitha runs her politics and make it working with her movie image, her most popular branding with action packaged popular entertainment, free launch for school children and magical give-aways. Though the court found her wealth to constitute $10 million and a raid in her residence revealed 10,500 sarees,750 pairs of shoes and 66 pounds of gold trailing just behind her Phillipino pal Imelda — all proved, however, nothing against her. The court of law also finally acquitted her all the same that left the byline writer of New York Times a bit askance.
