Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa remained very critical after last evening’s cardiac arrest has died it is reported. Local media in Tamilnadu is reporting that she has passed away and it is not confirmed officially. Earlier a statement from Chennai’s Apollo hospital has said not long after the AIADMK said that the leader had a heart surgery this morning and that she “is improving.”
The hospital has denied that Ms Jayalalithaa had an angio procedure and said she continues to be on an extracorporeal membrane heart assist device or ECMO, a life support system that aids heart and lung functioning, and other life support.
Ms Jayayalalithaa, 68, is being treated and monitored by experts, the hospital said. Union Health Minister JP Nadda said a team of four top doctors from Delhi’s prestigious AIIMS has been sent to Chennai on Apollo’ request.
“There was an angio procedure this morning. Doctors say don’t worry, Amma will be fine,” AIADMK spokesperson CR Saraswathi had said hours before, adding, “we are telling cadres don’t worry. God is with Amma, she will come back. Definitely she will be ok.”
Sometime later, another party leader Panruti Ramachandran said doctors are “observing the chief minister and she is improving.” A Congress leader who visited the hospital too said he was told by the state’s chief secretary P Rama Mohana Rao that the Chief Minister was better.
Outside the hospital, hundreds of supporters of “Amma” or mother as Ms Jayalalithaa is known to her millions of fans, have gathered weeping and praying. There is heavy security, with barricades put up. The police, on high alert, have blocked roads leading up to the hospital to avoid congestion.
AIADMK lawmakers and ministers, most of whom are at the hospital, will meet informally there today, sources said. Top bureaucrats are also at the hospital as are Ms Jayalalithaa’s close aides Sasikala and Sheela Balakrishnan, a former chief secretary and adviser to the chief minister.
Tamil Nadu Governor C Vidyasagar Rao who visited the hospital last night has reportedly briefed Home Minister Rajnath Singh and told him that law and order in the state is under control.
Ms Jayalalithaa was admitted at the Apollo hospital on September 22 and has been there since. Initially her party said she had dehydration and fever, but doctors later said she had an acute lung infection and was on respiratory support.
