Jayalalithaa taking semi-solid food, likely to be discharged from hospital in two weeks

Chennai: In a reprieve for Amma's supporter, a senior AIADMK leader announced that Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa is likely to be discharged from Chennai's Apollo Hospital in less than 15 days.

"All her vital parameters are under control. She is being given physiotherapy exercises. In less than 15 days, she is likely to be discharged from the hospital," AIADMK spokesperson C. Ponnaiyan told media. 

He said Jayalalithaa was now able to sit when the respiratory systems were removed. She was also taking semi-solid food.

Queried about the decision to shift Jayalalithaa from the critical care unit (CCU) to a private room, he said: "The difference between the two is the existence of emergency equipments."

A decision on shifting her to a private room is yet to be taken by the doctors.

Asked about Apollo Hospitals Chairman Pratap C. Reddy's statement that Jayalalithaa was fully cured and it was up to her to decide when to go home, Ponnaiyan said everybody wanted Jayalalithaa to return home as a completely fit person.

The 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.

According to Ponnaiyan, nobody - barring doctors, physiotherapists and nurses - were allowed inside the CCU where Jayalalithaa was warded.

"The CCU is big and spacious. Her bed is wheeled to a spot within the CCU from where she interacts with the Chief Secretary and her Advisor through a special audio system," Ponnaiyan said.

Jayalalithaa was admitted to the hospital in September with fever and infection.