The Karnataka High Court has quashed a lower court's order convicting Jayalalithaa on charges of amassing wealth beyond her income.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi phoned AIADMK chief J Jayalalithaa to congratulate on her acquittal in a corruption case, which has cleared the decks for her return as Tamil Nadu chief minister
"Honourable Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Puratchi Thalaivi Amma (Revolutionary Leader-Amma) and extended his greetings," the AIADMK said in a statement.
This morning, the Karnataka High Court quashed a lower court's order convicting Ms Jayalalithaa on charges of amassing wealth beyond her income. The conviction had meant that she was disqualified as a lawmaker and had to step down as chief minister.
PM Modi and Ms Jayalalithaa are said to enjoy cordial relations, with the former attending her swearing-in ceremony as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister in 2011. Ms Jayalalithaa returned the favour by attending his swearing-in ceremony as Gujarat Chief Minister the next year.
She had not attended PM Modi's oath ceremony last May to protest against his invitation to then Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa, whom Tamil Nadu parties accuse of war crimes.
In the national elections that PM Modi's BJP won, Ms Jayalalithaa swept her state, winning 37 of 39 seats. That made her AIADMK the third largest party in the Lok Sabha.
The party has supported the BJP government on several key issues in the Parliament. The Modi government, which is in a minority in the Rajya Sabha depends on the support of regional parties like the AIADMK to push through key legislation.