Leaders line up at hospital for Jayalalithaa

Political leaders, including Puducherry chief minister V. Narayanasamy, on Sunday visited the Apollo Hospital to enquire about the condition of Tamil Nadu chief minister J. Jayalalithaa even as the clamour for an interim or new chief minister to take over the reins of the administration grew louder on Sunday.

“I pray to the Almighty that she recovers fully and get back to her routine. I am fully confident that she will recover soon,” Mr Narayanasamy told reporters after visiting the hospital. Tamil Maanila Congress chief G.K. Vasan also visited the hospital where Ms Jayalalithaa is undergoing treatment since September 22.

“Our best wishes to the chief minister for a speedy recovery. We wish on behalf of Tamil Maanila Congress that she should resume her work for the people,” he said.

CPI leader and Rajya Sabha MP D. Raja said he spoke to doctors and AIADMK leaders present at the hospital.

Meanwhile, DMK treasurer M.K. Stalin reiterated the party’s demand for an interim chief minister since Apollo Hospitals has said that Ms Jayalalithaa would need to stay for longer. Viduthalai Chiruthaikal Katchi also joined the DMK’s call for an interim CM.

In a statement, VCK chief Thol Thirumavalavan said a “transparent, democratic interim” arrangement” to run the day-to-day affairs of the government was the need of the hour.

“Till the chief minister recovers completely and resumes her duty, there should a transparent, democratic interim arrangement should be in place. We are not bothered about what the interim arrangement is known as, but our concern is that a democratically elected government should not be run by officers,” he said.

While seeking to know who took decisions on the Cauvery issue, the VCK chief said one gets a doubt whether the Centre’s stand would have been against Tamil Nadu if Ms Jayalalithaa had taken the decisions.

PMK leader Anbumani Ramadoss, however, rejected the demand for an interim arrangement, saying it was for the AIADMK to decide. “Since the Chief Minister is indisposed for the past two weeks, the Governor’s involvement in the administration is necessary. He should guide the government in running the day-to-day affairs,” he said.

Speaking to reporters at the Chennai Airport on Sunday morning, Mr Stalin said the necessity for an interim CM arises because of inter-state issues like Cauvery and Mullaiperiyar. He also demanded that the Tamil Nadu Government ensure that the rights of the farmers’ in the Cauvery Delta region are protected.

“When the Chief Minister was admitted to the hospital it was said that she would be discharged in a day or two. But a statement from Apollo Hospitals released a few days ago said she needs further stay. So, an interim or new CM should take over the reins of the administration since the state is now grappling with issues like Cauvery, Mullaiperiyar and Palar river issue,” Mr Stalin said. The Opposition Leader, who had enquired about Ms Jayalalithaa’s health from AIADMK ministers at the Apollo Hospitals on Saturday night, had been demanding that the Tamil Nadu Government appoint an interim CM to ensure proper functioning of the administration. On the Cauvery issue, the DMK leader said the party has been fighting for the rights of farmers of the state and wanted the state government to take proactive measures in this regard. “The DMK is ready to go to any step. We want the State Government to convene an all-party meeting on the issue to finalise the strategy that should be adopted by Tamil Nadu,” he said.