Jayalalithaa under ‘constant monitoring’

CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa is under constant observation by a team of specialists at Apollo Hospital and her condition is being monitored by itensivists and consultants.

In the latest health bulletin issued on Saturday, the Apollo Hospital said, “the respiratory support is closely watched and adjusted. Lungs decongestion treatment is being continued. All other comprehensive measures including nutrition, supportive therapy and passive physiotherapy are underway.”

The hospital had already declared that her treatment would warrant her stay inside hospital for a longer duration.

Opposition parties have said her prolonged absence from office at a time when the state is grappling with several important issues, notably the Cauvery water dispute with Karnataka, was not acceptable. They said there ought to be an interim chief minister to take care of the government and handle governance issues.

“A situation like this (absence of chief minister) cannot be prolonged for long and there ought to be an arrangement that the ruling party needs to work out,” said Prof Ramu Manivannan of the Madras University.

The chief secretary and two senior ministers were summoned by the governor. This is being viewed as a development aimed at bringing a change in the administration for continued workflow.

Officially, the Raj Bhavan press statement said that the governor enquired about affairs of state administration and that the chief secretary briefed him on these issues. Speculation is rife in political circles that the party would like to install a deputy chief minister to discharge the day-to-day duties of the CM.

AIADMK spokesperson CR Saraswathi however ruled out the possibility of such a move saying there was no need for it.