No immediate political crisis in Tamil Nadu: D Raja

As protests by AIADMK workers against the verdict on J Jayalalithaa grip Tamil Nadu, Communist Party of India (CPI) leader D Raja said here on Sunday that he didn't foresee any immediate political crisis in the state.

"I don't look at it as a political crisis. In fact there is no threat to AIADMK government in the state as it has absolute majority in the state assembly. So there will not be any political instability," Raja told ANI.

"She happens to be the supreme leader of the party. After conviction when she has to be in prison, how long we don't know, she can avail the legal course available for her to contest the judgement, to go for appeal and everything. But as long as she is in prison she has to manage the party affairs," he added.

After the High Court convicted J Jayalalithaa in the disproportionate assets case on Friday, AIADMK supporters picketed and protested outside the court premises, at the Tamil Nadu-Karnataka border and also outside the residence of DMK leader M. Karunanidhi.

Police had to resort to a baton charge to disperse the gathering and bring a sense of order to the area. One man even attempted to immolate himself.

"Yesterday it was a difficult situation because their leader was convicted. Today everything is normal and peaceful. Because of certain agitation yesterday one should not rush to the conclusion that Constitutional laws have been broken," he added.

Meanwhile, reports say that AIADMK MLAs will meet this evening to elect the next Tamil Nadu Chief Minister.