Jailed women leaders who have bounced back to power
May 20th, 2011 - 11:44 pm ICT by IANSNew Delhi, May 20 (IANS) The arrest of Kanimozhi, DMK supremo M. Karunanidhi’s daughter, has raised questions whether her political career is finished. However, history is in favour of the Rajya Sabha member, as there have been instances of women leaders returning to power after going to prison.
Former prime minister Indira Gandhi was imprisoned in Delhi for a week in 1978 - from Dec 19 to 26 - for contempt of parliament. However, she bounced back to office in the 1980 Lok Sabha polls.
Earlier, on Sep 17, 1977, Gandhi was arrested in Delhi in a corruption case called the ‘jeep scam’, but a court released her the next day.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa was imprisoned in Chennai central jail for two weeks in 1996 - Dec 8-21 - in a colour TV purchase scam.
Jayalalithaa was also convicted by a Chennai court to five years of imprisonment in 2001 for illegally acquiring government property.
However, her party AIADMK won the assembly polls in 2001, despite her imprisonment.
Following a Supreme Court order, Jayalalithaa had to vacate the chief ministership in 2001, but regained the post when she was acquitted in the case by the apex court.
On Monday, Jayalalithaa became the chief minister again following the AIADMK’s landslide win in the just-concluded assembly polls.
- Karunanidhi to meet Kanimozhi, Sonia - Oct 21, 2011
- Price rise, corruption, DMK misrule to be poll focus: Jayalalithaa - Jan 19, 2011
- Sonia Gandhi congratulates Jayalalithaa on massive win (Lead) - May 15, 2011
- Jayalalithaa: Tamil Nadu's iron woman is chief minister once more - May 13, 2011
- War of words breaks out between Chidambaram and Jayalalithaa (Second Lead) - Jun 14, 2011
- PM should drop Maran from cabinet: Jayalalithaa - Jul 06, 2011
- Jayalalithaa to call on PM, may meet Sonia - Jun 13, 2011
- 2G no issue, Congress won't embrace AIADMK: DMK (Interview) - May 16, 2011
- Kanimozhi should not get concessions: Jayalalithaa - May 24, 2011
- AIADMK victory will have effect on national politics: Modi - May 16, 2011
- Dikshit meets Jayalalithaa - Jun 13, 2011
- Raja's arrest leaves many questions unanswered: Jayalalithaa (Lead) - Feb 02, 2011
- BJP's troubles mount: Karnataka advocate general quits (Lead) - Feb 09, 2012
- Jayalalithaa to meet plan panel - Jul 06, 2011
- Jayalalithaa's remark contempt of court: Chidambaram - Jun 14, 2011
Tags: apex court, assembly polls, central jail, chennai court, chief minister, chief ministership, colour tv, corruption case, dmk, former prime minister, going to prison, government property, indira gandhi, j jayalalithaa, lok sabha polls, m karunanidhi, political career, prime minister indira, rajya sabha member, women leaders