Suspense continues in Tamil Nadu
Panneerselvam and Sasikala meet governor separately and stake claim to form government
Suspense continued last night over whether V.K. Sasikala will be sworn in as the chief minister of Tamil Nadu after she staked a claim to forming the government at a meeting with Governor C. Vidyasagar Rao.
Hours after caretaker Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam visited Rao, Sasikala called on the governor and gave him the letter staking claim to forming a government and containing the names of supporting MLAs who elected her as AIADMK (All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Khazagam) Legislature Party leader. She also submitted letters of support furnished by AIADMK MLAs.
Some reports suggested the governor wanted to obtain further legal opinion before taking any action. Sasikala’s meeting with Rao lasted about 40 minutes. Earlier, Panneerselvam called on Rao and after a brief meeting said that “good things will happen and truth will prevail.”
The condition of government hospitals in general and Nilofer Children’s Hospital in particular, has come into sharp focus, with the state government ordering a high level probe into five maternity deaths in a span of five days last week at the hospital.
After a huge public outcry the state government ordered the Hyderabad district collector Rahul Bojja to conduct the probe. A three-member panel will assist him in the probe.
In view of the gravity of the situation the government has closed down the operation theatre for the ceaserian section surgeries. Officials said they will remain closed for a few more days.
Rahul Bojja after visiting the hospital and talking to staff members and the kin of the deceased said he will go deep into the matter and study medical records like the medication given to the patients, blood culture and other reports.
Bojja also spoke to the hospital superintendent Suresh Kumar and other senior doctors. He also talked to surgeons who carried out C section surgeries on the five women who died after surgery between January 28 and February 4.
‘Inexperienced students’
Relatives of the women said operations were carried out by inexperienced medical students and proper care was not given to them. They said excessive bleeding during the operations was the cause of death.
But doctors said all 5 women were brought to hospital at a late stage. However families of the victims refuted the charge.
Akhtarunnisa, mother-inlaw of a victim Bushra alleged that when her daughter-inlaw was in pain after surgery and crying, a staff member slapped her and asked her to shut up. “When her condition worsened they took our signature on blank paper and shifted her to Osmania hospital where she died”, she said.