Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa has been admitted in hospital for 11 days
Highlights
- Jayalalithaa running government from hospital bed, says AIADMK
- Ministers, officials are meeting her everyday, party says
- The Governor, too, met her yesterday, gave her fruits, said AIADMK
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa "continues to improve", Apollo Hospital has said in its latest medical bulletin released today.
The chief minister has been advised to stay for a few more days in the hospital, where she was admitted for "fever and dehydration" 11 days ago.
Apollo Hospital said Dr Richard Beale, the critical care specialist flown in from the UK, has examined Ms Jayalalithaa and evaluated her clinical reports.
Reiterating that she was responding well to treatment, the hospital said it will continue the current course "including appropriate antibiotics and allied clinical measures to treat infection".
Amid health concerns, her party, the AIADMK, had also asserted today that Jayalalithaa was running her government from hospital.
"Amma is recovering well," said AIADMK spokesperson CR Saraswati, a day after the state's Governor Vidyasagar Rao visited Chennai's Apollo hospital.
"The Governor met her, spoke to her, even gave her fruits," said Ms Saraswati, adding that the "Governor's report also says she is getting better."
A statement from Mr Rao's office had said yesterday, "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."
The party spokesperson said today that the Chief Minister is meeting ministers and officials every day and that "the government is functioning like always." ''Amma works 22 out of 24 hours for the party. We want her to get some rest. That is why she is staying on in hospital," she said.
She rejected calls by opposition leader M Karunanidhi for a photograph to be released of the 68-year-old to rein in speculation about her condition, saying, "Amma is a woman and in hospital; it is not right to ask for her photo."
The AIADMK had said on Saturday that it hoped their leader would be discharged soon and also, "We are answerable only to people, not the opposition."
Throughout her hospitalisation, the AIADMK has shot down reports that the Chief Minister, a former movie star and one of the most popular and powerful politicians in the country, is seriously unwell.
It has said she has been treated for fever and dehydration. Amid escalating speculation about her health, the party has filed four police cases against people who misreported her condition on social media.
Other Opposition leaders like the PMK's Dr S Ramadoss have also questioned the lack of information about the Chief Minister's health, pointing out that it has given rise to worry and speculation.