Rahul Gandhi visits Jayalalithaa at Chennai hospital, says she is recovering

Chennai: Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi visited Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa at Apollo Hospital in Chennai on Friday and said she is ‘recovering well.’

Rahul drove straight from the airport to the hospital and visited the unit where Jayalalithaa is being treated.

In brief remarks after visiting the hospital, Rahul said, "I wanted to give my support and Congress president's support to the Chief Minister".

"The Chief Minister is improving and she is going to be alright," he said.

"I want to give maximum energy to Jayalalithaa ji, so that she gets well soon," Rahul said while replying to a question, adding, he wishes for her speedy recovery.

He was briefed by doctors about the treatment being given to the AIADMK supremo. State Congress chief Su Thirunavukkarasar accompanied him.

Rahul's visit to Chennai lasted barely a little over an hour and half. He arrived around 11.20 am and boarded a flight to Delhi around 1 pm.

On Thursday, Apollo Hospital had issued a statement, saying that Jayalalithaa needs to stay in hospital for a longer period and will be examined by a team of three doctors from All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS).

The doctors said she remains on respiratory support.

According to reports, the three-member team includes pulmonologist GC Khilnani, cardiologist Nitish Naik and anaesthetist Anjan Trikha, who were flown in to Chennai on Wednesday.

“Based on the detailed deliberations and clinical examination, the expert group of doctors Apollo Hospitals have drawn up a detailed medical management plan, keeping in view the Chief Minister’s known history of diabetes and winter bronchitis in inclement weather,” the statement said.

“The present treatment regimen includes continued respiratory support, nebulisation, drugs to decongest the lungs, antibiotics, nutrition, general nursing care and supportive therapy,” the statement further said.

Jayalalithaa was admitted to Apollo Hospital in Chennai on September 22 for “fever and dehydration.”

Dr. Richard John Beale, consultant in Intensive Care Medicine at Guy's and St.Thomas Hospital, was earlier called to Chennai to examine the chief minister.

The opposition party in Tamil Nadu demanded the AIADMK release her photograph to confirm her illness.

A social activist, Traffic Ramaswamy, had filed a petition in the High Court, seeking a detailed report from the government on the chief minister's health. However, the Madras High Court dismissed the petition on Thursday.