AIADMK may go in for interim chief minister

With doctors declaring that ailing Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa is required to stay longer in hospital, the ruling AIADMK is seriously considering appointing an interim chief minister.

The party sources said a decision to this effect was taken in the backdrop of Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao meeting senior ministers, including Jayalalithaa’s most-trusted man  O Panneerselvam, the finance minister, and the chief secretary, on Friday to discuss the state’s administrative affairs.

Though the AIADMK officially continues to maintain that there is no “legal” necessity for an interim chief minister, the government authorities have made it clear to the ruling party that Jayalalithaa’s extended stay in hospital would not work as several official files had to be signed. The AIADMK sources said senior ministers had reportedly told the governor to wait for a while as they were “confident enough that the chief minister will recover fully very soon”.

They said the portfolios handled by Jayalalithaa may most probably be distributed among the senior ministers.

An official health bulletin released by Apollo Hospital chief operating officer, Subbiah Viswanathan, on Saturday evening said the respiratory support provided to the chief minister was closely watched and adjusted. Lung decongestion treatment is being continued, he added.