CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa has "completely recovered," said Dr Pratap Reddy, chief of Apollo Hospitals, Chennai. He said the 68- year- old is now aware of what was happening around her and "asks and demands what she wants." The AIADMK supremo has been in hospital since September 22, and was being treated for lung infection.
A senior party leader said, Amma would soon be moved to a private room and would be discharged from the hospital in 15 days. C Ponnaiyan, party spokesperson, said, "The lung infection is under control. She has passed the critical stage. The respiratory system is being weaned away. It is being used on and off." He also said that she had been eating semi solid food and was also talking to people now.
A specialist from London and three doctors from AIIMS have been treating Jaya, along with a team of doctors from Apollo. Several senior leaders, including the Governor Vidyasagar Rao visited the hospital, but no one could meet the CM. Just last month, Rao had handed charge of eight ministries handled by the chief minister to Finance Minister O Panneerselvam. Party workers continued to organise prayers for the Chief Minister’s speedy recovery.
Jayalalithaa was admitted to the Apollo Hospital on September 22 after she complained of fever and dehydration. Later, the hospital had said she was being treated for infection with respiratory support among others. In its last medical bulletin on October 21, the hospital had said the Chief Minister was interacting and progressing gradually.
AIADMK leaders feel it was better for Jayalalithaa to be in the hospital for some more days under a controlled environment so that there was no relapse of the infection.
"At home she is the master. Further she may get back into the thick of things and as a result there may be some strain which is not there in the hospital now," Ponnaiyan explained. He said Jayalalithaa was now able to sit when the respiratory systems were removed. She was also taking semi-solid food.
