CHENNAI: One of India’s most powerful politicians, Jayalalithaa Jayaram, is set to return as chief minister of the southern state of Tamil Nadu following a nine-month break, after a court overturned her conviction in a corruption case.

A former film star who has a cult-like following in Tamil Nadu, Jayalalithaa also wields influence in national politics, with her AIADMK party holding the third largest number of seats in India’s lower house of parliament.

Jayalalithaa is expected to be sworn in as chief minister as early as Saturday. The governor of Tamil Nadu on Friday invited her to form the state government, his office said in a statement.

“Tamil Nadu, which was suffering without its mother, is now getting her back,” said V.P. Kalairajan, a state legislator from her party.

Hundreds of supporters gathered to celebrate outside Jayalalithaa’s home in Chennai, the state capital, and members of her party handed out sweets, with posters 20 feet tall being hastily put up in anticipation of her return.

Published in Dawn, May 23rd, 2015

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