CHENNAI: As Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa still in hospital with undisclosed illness, AIADMK functionaries are in talks of putting in place a stand-in leadership to hold the reins of the government. The developments came the day acting governor C Vidyasagar Rao had a meeting with Palaniswami and Panneerselvam at Raj Bhavan.
A statement released by Raj Bhavan said the governor discussed issues relating to general administration. Chief secretary P Rama Mohana Rao briefed the governor about the functions being carried out on a day-to-day basis. Following the meeting, all the ministers went to Apollo hospital where all cabinet ministers had gathered.
Meanwhile, the state government will not be ordered to make a formal statement on the health of Chief Minister Jayalalithaa. Admitted in the hospital since September 22, the AIADMK leader is on a respiratory support and is said to be responding well to treatment. With not much information being released on her health, many demanded a photograph be released of her to confirm she is well enough to remain in charge of the state. An activist had even separately petitioned the High Court asking the government explain details of her condition along with naming an interim Chief Minister to fill in for her. Doctors from Delhi's AIIMS hospital have joined a UK specialist in lung diseases in attending to the former movie star who is one of the country's most powerful and popular politicians.
