Supporters of Tamil Nadu chief minister Jayalalithas Jayaram keep vigil outside the hospital in Chennai where she is being treated on December 4, 2016. Arun Sankar / AFP
Supporters of Tamil Nadu chief minister Jayalalithas Jayaram keep vigil outside the hospital in Chennai where she is being treated on December 4, 2016. Arun Sankar / AFP
Supporters of Tamil Nadu chief minister Jayalalithas Jayaram keep vigil outside the hospital in Chennai where she is being treated on December 4, 2016. Arun Sankar / AFP
Supporters of Tamil Nadu chief minister Jayalalithas Jayaram keep vigil outside the hospital in Chennai where she is being treated on December 4, 2016. Arun Sankar / AFP

World

South Indian politician Jayalalithaa suffers cardiac arrest

The popular chief minister of Tamil Nadu state has been in hospital since September.

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New Delhi // The ailing chief minister of southern India’s Tamil Nadu state, Jayalalithaa Jayaram, has suffered a cardiac arrest only days after she handed many of her responsiblities to a deputy because of illness.

“CM [Jayaram], who is undergoing treatment at Apollo Hospitals, suffered a cardiac arrest this evening,” Dr Subbaiah Viswanathan from the hospital said on Sunday.

“She is being treated and monitored by a team of experts, including cardiologists, pulmonologist and critical care specialists.”

Ms Jayalalithaa, 68, was admitted to hospital on September 22 suffering from fever and dehydration and has been on respiratory support.

Authorities have said little about the state of the hugely popular politician after several of her supporters resorted to self-harm when she was jailed briefly in 2014 on charges of corruption.

Her latest medical setback comes only days after doctors and senior leaders from her regional party talked about her recovery and imminent return to active political duties.

A former movie star, Ms Jayalalithaa is known to fans simply as Amma (Mother) thanks to a series of highly populist schemes and election-time freebies including electric blenders, goats and small amounts of gold.

Over the last few weeks, some of her fans and supporters have resorted to extreme steps while praying for her good health and speedy recovery.

Some have performed sacrifices to try to change her fate. Recent images in the local media showed scores of children with metal arrows piercing their cheeks and holding her photo as they prayed for her recovery.

Soon after reports of her cardiac arrest, news channels showed her supporters, particularly women, crying publicly and gathering in their hundreds outside the hospital.

* Agence France-Presse

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