Congress hails SC verdict on Sasikala, turns heat on TN Governor

Welcoming the verdict given by the Supreme Court convicting AIADMK General Secretary V. K. Sasikala in connection with the 19-year old disproportionate assets case, the Congress on Thursday said the judgment is a clear warning against all people and all parties who are corrupted.

"At last the justice has prevailed. Court verdict is a clear cut verdict against corruption. Corruptions and public life should not be tolerated at any cost. So, judgement is a clear warning against all people who are corrupt and all parties who are corrupted," Congress leader P.C. Chacko told ANI.

He further emphasized that the verdict did not have much political implication or much reaction in Tamil Nadu which shows that people don't seem to be too unhappy with the verdict.

"But the question basically is not about Sasikala or the court verdict but the political situation, paralysis of the administration. The assembly should be immediately convened and a vote of confidence should be taken. Tamil Nadu should immediately get a stable government. Delaying by the governor has created some instability, that's the fact," he added.

Setting aside on earlier Karnataka High Court order, a two-judge bench of the Supreme Court on Tuesday convicted Sasikala in connection with a 19-year old disproportionate assets case.

She has been ordered to surrender to the law enforcement authorities immediately to serve the remainder of her four-year jail term.

She also will not be able to contest elections for 10 years or hold public office.

The verdict comes in the backdrop of the ongoing power struggle within the ruling AIADMK in Tamil Nadu - between Sasikala and the incumbent Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam.

The pending disproportionate assets case that posed a legal hurdle against Sasikala's taking over as the Chief Minister dates back to 1996. Late J. Jayalalithaa, Sasikala and her two relatives, Ilavarasi and Sudhagaran, were convicted in the case that alleged that the former chief minister owned assets far exceeding her known sources of income.