It’s been nearly two weeks since Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa was admitted to Apollo Hospital in Chennai. While hundreds of her supporters pray for her speedy recovery, there has been widespread speculation over when Jayalalithaa will be discharged from the hospital. This despite the health bulletin on Tuesday stating that “the same line of treatment is being continued” and that the CM has been advised further stay at the hospital.
Such conjectures have also gained further ground following rumours that her residence at Poes Garden and Siruthavur are being readied for her.
But a source in the CM office has denied the rumours. "She is recovering as the doctors too have been telling the media. There has been no advice from the doctors to shift her home now. We are waiting for instructions," said the source.
Meanwhile, with her entire cabinet and several MPs and MLAs as well as top bureaucrats camping at Apollo Hospital in Chennai for the last fortnight, instructions were issued to leaders to return to their respective constituencies and resume work. This after questions were raised in the media over governance slowing down in Tamil Nadu and over the leadership vacuum in the ruling party.
While the AIADMK had, in 2001 and in 2014, nominated Finance Minister O Panneerselvam as stand-in Chief Minister following Jayalalithaa’s conviction in the TANSI case and the DA case respectively, the ruling party denies reports of appointing a Deputy Chief Minister presently. Speaking to The News Minute, a senior AIADMK leader said, "The media reports on a Deputy Chief Minister being appointed is purely speculative. Why should we discuss a deputy CM when we are sure that she would get discharged sooner than later and resume power?"
Jayalalithaa was admitted to Apollo Hospital late on September 22 with “a fever and dehydration”. A health bulletin released by the hospital on Monday stated that she was being treated for an infection and “the treatment plan includes appropriate antibiotics, respiratory support and other allied clinical measures”. Dr Richard Beale from London, who wass called in to consult with the team of doctors treating the Chief Minister, has since returned to England.