Chennai: Thursday's 2G spectrum verdict has come as a huge relief for the DMK, out of power in Tamil Nadu since 2011 and shunned by potential allies while being lambasted by opponents over the corruption scandal.

As a special court in Delhi acquitted the two accused DMK politicians - former Union telecom minister A. Raja and MP Kanimozhi -party supporters burst crackers and distributed sweets across Tamil Nadu.

Political analysts suggested the DMK would fare well if the local body elections, delayed by more than a year, were held now. They predicted that some of the parties that had ostracised the DMK in the 2016 Assembly elections might well tie up with it in future.

DMK senior S. Duraimurugan said the verdict was a "Himalayan victory".

"It was a case filed to destroy the party," acting party president M.K. Stalin said, lauding the "historic verdict".

Kanimozhi, daughter of party patriarch M. Karunanidhi, said: "We have been vindicated. This was a case based on mere presumption and without evidence."

Political analysts cited how VCK leader Thol Thirumavalavan and MDMK leader Vaiko, who had contested against the DMK in 2016, had welcomed the verdict. As expected, the Congress has expressed its immense relief and congratulated the DMK.

State CPI secretary Muttharasan said the verdict would strengthen the DMK. However, PMK leader S. Ramadoss continued to maintain that the accused DMK politicians were guilty. The DMDK and the CPM had not reacted by evening.

However, the ruling AIADMK insisted that the relief for its rival was "temporary" and that the acquittals would be overturned on appeal before a higher court.

Swamy on PM

The verdict comes weeks after Prime Minister Narendra Modi had met Karunanidhi in Chennai.

Subramanian Swamy, who had moved multiple courts to have Raja prosecuted and is now a BJP Rajya Sabha MP, said in New Delhi after the verdict: "The PM did not ask me before meeting Karunanidhi. He (the DMK leader) is anti-Hindu and anti-national. The PM should not have met him.... The DMK has clarified that there can be no alliance with the BJP."