NEW DELHI: With 11 crucial MPs in the Rajya Sabha who could tip the balance in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s favour or mar his chance of pushing business-friendly laws by staying with the opposition, former actress Jayalalithaa Jayaram was being wooed by both sides when she was sworn Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu for the fifth time on Saturday.

Two weeks ago Ms Jayalaltihaa was given a clean chit by the Congress-ruled Karnataka High Court in a decade old graft case. The first to greet her after her swearing in at a gala event in Chennai was the prime minister herself.

The Hindu described the event as a well attended ceremony at the Centenary Auditorium of the University of Madras. She and her cabinet colleagues took oath in the presence of Tamil Nadu Governor K. Rosaiah.

Amid speculation over top Bharatiya Janata Party leaders attending the event, Union Minister of State for Shipping Pon. Radhakrishnan was seen sitting in the front row. Actor Rajinikanth was also spotted among a host of celebrities seen at the venue.

The ceremony marked her return to the chief minister’s chair, about a fortnight after the Karnataka High Court acquitted her and three others of corruption charges in the disproportionate assets case, The Hindu said.

Kamarajar Salai, along Marina beach, wore a festive look with Ms Jayalalithaa’s supporters dotting road margins along the entire stretch, which was closed for public vehicles.

The modified traffic arrangements clogged nearby areas on Saturday morning, causing traffic bottlenecks in stretches along the parallel Anna Salai.

On Friday, the AIADMK chief made her first public appearance in 217 days, and was greeted by scores of supporters, The Hindu said.

Published in Dawn, May 24th, 2015

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