Update: Tamil Nadu CM J Jayalalithaa remains “very critical”

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalitha (68) suffered a cardiac arrest on Sunday evening, according to a statement of Apollo Hospitals, where she has been under treatment for over two months. The chief minister had been admitted to hospital after complaining of dehydration and fever.

Earlier today, her party the AIADMK had announced that she would soon return home from hospital, as a team from AIIMS had confirmed that she was completely recovered, after examining her on December 3. However, this evening, Apollo Hospitals in Chennai released the following statement:

“The Hon’ble Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu who is undergoing treatment at Apollo Hospitals, Greams Road, Chennai, suffered a cardiac arrest this evening. She is being treated and monitored by a team of experts including Cardioliogists, Pulmonologists and the Critical Care Specialists.

Issued by Apollo Hospitals, Chennai. Signed Subbiah Viswanathan, COO and Head of Transformation”

Sources say that the chief minister is critical and senior ministers have rushed to Apollo Hospital, outside which several supporters have already gathered.

11.30 PM UPDATE

Maharashtra Governor C Vidyasagar Rao, who holds additional charge of Tamil Nadu, has left for Chennai from Mumbai.

As the crowds keep swelling outside Apollo Hospital, the Tamil Nadu Police are on high alert.

Almost all ministers have rushed to the hospital; reports said the Tamil Nadu cabinet was meeting inside Apollo Hospital.

President Pranab Mukherjee said he was "distressed to hear about CM Jayalalithaa suffering a cardiac arrest" and prayed for her speedy recovery. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Congress Vice president Rahul Gandhi, RJD president Lalu Prasad Yadav, and Union ministers Suresh Prabhu and Nirmala Sitharaman among others prayed for the quick recovery and good health of Tamil Nadu chief minister Selvi J Jayalalithaa.

2 PM UPDATE, MONDAY, December 5

Contrary to a statement by AIADMK MLA CR Saraswathi that Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa had undergone a surgery on Monday morning and had improved, Apollo Hospitals at Greams Road in Chennai issued a statement saying that the Chief Minister remains very critical, and on life support. The Chief Minister has been under treatment at Apollo Hospital for the past two months. She had suffered a cardiac arrest on Sunday evening.

A team of specialists from AIIMS have been flown to Chennai to assist with treatment for the Chief Minister.

The Hindu reported that an AIADMK member had died of shock after learning of the Chief Minister’s health condition.

Wishes have continued to pour in for Jayalalithaa’s quick recovery from across the political spectrum.

Tamil Nadu Police remains on high alert across the state.