Jayalalithaa responding well to treatment, has begun talking to people: AIADMK leader

Chennai: An AIADMK leader C Ponnaiyan said on Wednesday that Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa was making good progress.

He added that there was absolutely no cause for any concern.

Ponnaiyan was quoted as saying by Hindustan Times, “Amma has begun talking to people. She spoke to Dr Richard Beale from England and thanked him for taking good care of her.” 

The AIADMK leader added that he was in regular touch with Dr Beale.

“She has had a lung infection and because of that she had breathing trouble as well. That is why she was being given respiratory support, which is a normal medical procedure. She has responded very well to the treatment,” he said.

Ponnaian was further quoted as saying by the media house, “The hospital is very annoyed with criticism that its health bulletins were contradictory and short on facts. These allegations were made by opposition DMK."

The last bulletin on Jayalalithaa’s health condition was issued on October 10 by the hospital.

Puratchi Thalaivi Amma is being constantly monitored by expert panel -Apollo Hospital. pic.twitter.com/9vUKEULo6s — AIADMK (@AIADMKOfficial) October 10, 2016

68-year-old Jayalalithaa was admitted to the Apollo hospital on September 22 after she complained of fever and dehydration.

Panneerselvam holds first Cabinet meeting after Jayalalithaa's illness

Meanwhile, for the first time after the Tamil Nadu Governor re-allocated the portfolios of Jayalalithaa, state Finance Minister O Panneerselvam today presided over a meeting of the state cabinet to discuss, among other matters, the vexed Cauvery issue.

Although the government did not release details of the agenda of the meeting, the Cabinet is understood to have deliberated on the ongoing Cauvery water sharing dispute with Karnataka, besides other subjects, as per PTI.

The meeting also comes ahead of the scheduled onset of north-east monsoon later this month. The rains in December last year had wreaked havoc, flooding Chennai and nearby districts.

Last week, Tamil Nadu Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao had allotted the portfolios including Home held by Jayalalithaa to Panneerselvam, till the time she returned to resume official duties.

Portfolios looked after by Honourable Amma have been allocated to Finance Minister O. Panneerselvam on the advice of Puratchi Thalaivi Amma. — AIADMK (@AIADMKOfficial) October 11, 2016

Puratchi Thalaivi Amma will continue to be the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. — AIADMK (@AIADMKOfficial) October 11, 2016

The government released photographs of today's Cabinet meeting, where Panneerselvam was seen seated with a picture of Jayalalithaa placed on his desk.

மாண்புமிகு அமைச்சர் திரு. ஓ. பன்னீர்செல்வம் அவர்கள் தலைமையில் இன்று தலைமைச் செயலகத்தில் அமைச்சரவைக் கூட்டம் நடைபெற்றது. pic.twitter.com/bcujwOCWGr — AIADMK (@AIADMKOfficial) October 19, 2016

The nearly hour-long meeting was held in the backdrop of the ongoing Cauvery water sharing row with Karnataka and demands by Opposition parties for an all-party meeting on the issue.

Farmers' bodies and political parties had staged a two-day state-wide rail blockade ending Tuesday, urging the Centre to constitute the Cauvery Management Board.

The Raj Bhavan had last week in a release, said Paneerselvam, who holds the Administrative Reforms portfolio, in addition to Finance, "will also preside over cabinet meetings."

The last Cabinet meeting held by Jayalalithaa was in July this year to discuss the state budget.

(With Agency inputs)