Supporters form human chain to show solidarity with Jayalalithaa

Supporters of former Tamil Nadu chief minister J.Jayalalithaa formed a human chain in support of the jailed leader in Chennai on Wednesday.

All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) workers formed a human chain involving more than 4,500 people in Chennai on Wednesday. Supporters hoped that she would come back to power.

"With a token of showing our solidarity and support, we have all gathered here to form a human chain. About 4,500 plus people are expected to participate in this human chain which is just about to happen in the next few minutes. We all want to tell these people that Amma will come back, Amma will come back very powerfully, will rise like the phoenix," said the secretary of the IT wing of the AIADMK, K Swaminathan.

"This judgment is nothing but political vendetta. The fine amount and the sentence is totally unjust. We are here to form a human chain and fight against this," said an AIADMK member, Prashant.

Jayalalithaa was legally obliged to step down as the chief minister of Tamil Nadu, which she has governed since 2011 under her latest term. Meanwhile, AIADMK leader and former chief minister O. Paneerselvam, took oath as the next chief minister of the state on Sunday.

Jayalalithaa was sentenced to four years in jail on Saturday in a high-profile corruption case that has lasted nearly two decades.

A special court in Bangalore found Jayalalithaa guilty of "disproportionately" amassing about Rs 60 crore outside her known sources of income, prosecution lawyers told reporters. She has been sentenced to four years' imprisonment.

Her supporters have been vociferously protesting against the verdict, with many even resorting to suicide.

The court has also fined the four-time chief minister Rs 100 crores, which will be taken from the properties that have already been seized by the court.