Jayalalithaa is conscious, no need for substitute Tamil Nadu CM: AIADMK

A spokesperson of the ruling AIADMK said Jayalalithaa is conscious and is recovering.

Chennai: A day after the Apollo Hospitals said J Jayalalithaa requires a longer stay at the hospital, the ruling All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) on Friday said there is no need for temporary Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.

A spokesperson of the ruling AIADMK noted: "There is no legal necessity for that.”

Speaking to news agency IANS, AIADMK spokesperson Avadi Kumar said: "There is no need for a temporary or substitute Chief Minister at the current juncture.”

According to him, Jayalalithaa is conscious and is recovering.

Kumar said when there were legal hurdles in Jayalalithaa holding the Chief Minister`s post, Finance Minister O Panneerselvam was sworn in as the Chief Minister.

Once the legal problems were sorted out, Jayalalithaa was sworn in as the Chief Minister again.

He said AIADMK founder, the late MG Ramachandran, won the Assembly Election in 1984 while he was in a hospital in Brooklyn, US. He was sworn in as Chief Minister on his arrival.

Kumar said the late DMK leader Murasoli Maran was in a hospital for a long time as a Union Minister without portfolio till he died.

The 68-year-old Jayalalithaa was admitted to Apollo Hospitals on September 22 for fever and dehydration.

On Thursday, the consensus opinion of all experts at the Apollo Hospitals was that Jayalalithaa will require a longer stay in the hospital and the line of treatment given to Jayalalithaa should be continued.

"The present treatment regimen includes continued respiratory support, neubilisation, drugs to decongest the lungs, antibiotics, nutrition, general nursing care and supportive therapy," Apollo Hospitals said.

The hospital said Jayalalithaa is making gradual progress but did not say for how long she may have to stay in the hospital.

(With IANS inputs)