Jayalalithaa was admitted to hospital with fever and dehydration on September 22.
Highlights
- Jayalalithaa said 'yes' to portfolio allocation to Panneerselvam: AIADMK
- Fending off opposition questions, party said Amma 'recovering fast'
- Nothing happens in AIADMK without her knowledge: Party
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa gave verbal consent to her eight portfolios being assigned to the state's Finance Minister O Panneerselvam while she recovers in hospital, her party the AIADMK said on Wednesday evening.
The chief minister, party spokesperson CR Saraswathi told NDTV, is "reading newspapers and recovering fast," according to doctors.
"A message was sent to Jayalalithaa about giving portfolios to O Panneerselvam, She said 'yes'. She's not unconscious," Ms Saraswathi said, also explaining that "everybody can't go inside (to her room) due to infection. Only doctors go. Without the Chief Minister's knowledge, nothing happens in AIADMK."
It was rebuttal to opposition parties who asked just how Ms Jayalalithaa had advised the state's Governor Vidyasagar Rao to assign her portfolios or departments to Mr Panneerselvam, who has stood in for Ms Jayalalithaa twice before when she stepped down as chief minister over corruption cases against her.
"Till the Governor explains, the decision will be suspect... Jayalalithaa could not have gestured or signed while on respiratory support," opposition leader S Ramadoss of the Pattali Makkal Katchi or PMK had said on Wednesday.
M Karunanidhi, the chief of main opposition party DMK, sought to know whether Ms Jayalalithaa had "signed a file" to advice the Governor on the changes. He also asked why visitors have not been allowed to meet Ms Jayalalithaa. Among those who have visited the hospital are BJP chief Amit Shah, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi and several union ministers.
The opposition leaders have earlier questioned the lack of information about Ms Jayalalithaa's health and had demanded that the government make statements on her condition and release her photograph to put rumours that she is gravely ill at rest.
The AIADMK has rejected that demand and Ms Saraswati said on Wednesday, "Doctors say Jayalalithaa is reading newspapers and she is recovering fast. The hospital wouldn't give a false report. A press statement from the government is not a public demand, it is an opposition demand."
The Chief Minister has been at Chennai's Apollo hospital since September 22. Doctors said she is being treated for lung infection and has been on respiratory support for several days. Ms Jayalalalithaa will not be able to leave hospital soon, they said.