It has been nearly a month since Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa was admitted to the Apollo hospital in Chennai. Her party, the AIADMK celebrated its 44th founding day without much fanfare.
'Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and AIADMK General Secretary Jayalalithaa had approved garlanding of M. G. Ramachandran's (MGR) statue', as per a statement released by the party.
AIADMK completed 44 years and stepped into the 45th year on Monday. At the AIADMK's headquarters in Chennai, party Presidium Chairman E. Madhusudanan garlanded MGR's statue and also hoisted the party flag.
The Times of India reported that Madhusudanan also released a souvenir and gave the first copy to former MP S Anbazhagan and cried aloud "Puratchi Thalaivi Vazhga” (long live our leader).
In 2014, Jayalalithaa was in the Karnataka prison for Disproportionate Assets case and was not present for the celebration. Then also, the celebrations were toned down.
However this year, the celebrations were more low key with Jayalalithaa in hospital and cadres praying for her health.
She was admitted to hospital on September 22 with fever and dehydration.
The doctors later said she needed a longer stay at the hospital as she was suffering from infection and put her on respiratory support.
On October 8, the hospital said: "The respiratory support is closely watched and adjusted. Lungs decongestion treatment is being continued. All other comprehensive measures including nutrition, supportive therapy and passive physiotherapy are under way."
Various political leaders citing her health condition had questioned how Jayalalithaa in her condition had asked Governor Vidyasagar Rao to allocate her portfolios to Finance Minister O. Panneerselvam.
Moreover, no medical bulletins have been published by the hospital since October 10.
(With IANS inputs)