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Jayalalithaa’s health sparks speculation; specialist flown in from London
A cloak of secrecy surrounds the health of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayaram Jayalalithaa, who has been in a Chennai Hospital since September 22, as speculation is rife despite pleas by her party, AIADMK, not to believe any rumours.
A pall of political uncertainty prevails in the southern Indian state as the chief minister remains incommunicado in her room in the fortified Apollo Hospital. Soon after her admission to the hospital, the hospital’s Chief Operating officer Subbiah Viswanathan said the chief minister was being treated for fever and dehydration. In subsequent statements, he said her condition was stable but she would be under observation for a few more days.
He dismissed reports that the chief minister was being flown to Singapore for further treatment. “The doctors attending to Ms. Jayalalithaa feel that there is no need for her to go to Siingapore as she is responding to the treatment,” he said
But the secrecy with which her admission to the hospital was handled and the high security around the hospital complex have given rise to speculation that there is more to it than meets the eye.
Ms. Jayalalithaa appeared tired and exhausted when she last appeared in public to inspect the guard of honour on India’s Independence Day on August 15 at Fort Saint George, Tamil Nadu’s seat of power.
On Friday, Dr Richard John Beale, Consultant Intensivist was flown in from the London Bridge Hospital to examine Ms. Jayalalithaa.
Dr. Beale, who will be staying in Chennai for a few more days, said Jayalalithaa was receiving the best course of treatment at the hospital.
However, the arrival of the intensivist has only added to rumours that the Chief Minister is critically ill. This is because an intensivist is a physician who provides special care for critically ill patients.
Meanwhile, the opposition Dravida Munnetral Kazhakam (DMK) leader Muthuvel Karunanidhi in a statement yesterday asked the Tamil Nadu government to clarify on Ms. Jayalalithaa’s health and put an end to speculation and agony of her party cadre.
The 93-year-old politician wanted the State’s Governor to issue a statement on the chief minister’s health.
DMK sources said Mr. Karunanidhi made the request since neither the hospital nor the Tamil Nadu government had issued pictures of the Chief Minister after she was admitted to hospital.
The Tamil Nadu government had claimed that the chief minister had summoned senior state officials to her hospital room to instruct them on the talks they were to hold with the Union Water Minister regarding the Cauveri water-sharing crisis involving, among other states, Karnataka.
But there were not many takers of the story.
Meanwhile, Indian media reports said last night that Governor Vidyasagar Rao visited the hospital but met only the doctors who briefed him on the chief minister’s condition.
“The Governor was happy to note that the chief minister is recovering well and appreciated the doctors for providing the best medical care and treatment,” a statement issued by his office said.