Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, who suffered a cardiac arrest on Sunday evening, continued to remain under close observation of an expert team of doctors at the Apollo Hospitals. She has been put on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), a heart assist device.
A large number of AIADMK supporters, including women, waited outside the hospital, which has been covered in a thick blanket of security, praying for the speedy recovery of their dear leader who they fondly call 'Amma'. The party members stayed on outside the hospital, braving midnight rains.
The AIADMK ministers, who spent the entire night at the hospital, left on Monday morning. None of them spoke to the reporters stationed outside the hospital.
President Pranab Mukherjee, DMK leaders M. Karunanidhi, K. Stalin, union ministers, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, chief ministers of various states and other leaders expressed concern over Jayalalithaa's health condition and wished her speedy recovery.
Taking to Twitter, President Pranab Mukherjee said he was distressed to hear about Jayalalithaa suffering a cardiac arrest and prayed for her speedy recovery.
In his tweet, Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi said he is praying for Jayalalithaa's quick recovery and expressed hope that she will get better very soon.
“Feeling bad to know abt da critical condition of TN CM Selvi Jayalalitha. Praying fr her speedy recovery and quick response 2 the treatment,” Union Information and Broadcasting Venkaiah Naidu tweeted.
Meanwhile, schools and colleges in Chennai will remain open on Monday.
(with inputs from agencies)
