All roads lead to Apollo as Amma 'fever' grips Tamil Nadu

CHENNAI: RM Balakrishnan, a priest from Kancheepuram, has been waiting outside the premises of Apollo hospitals in Chennai since 4 am after hearing the news of Tamil Nadu chief minister and AIADMK supremo J Jayalalithaa's hospitalisation. After doing an early morning puja in the name of 'Amma', he now has an evening 'abhishekam' to perform for her speedy recovery.

Standing out in his traditional 'pujari' attire from the other loyalists who have thronged the area since midnight, he, however, prefers to identify himself as just an 'Amma' follower. "Rituals are being performed in all temples in Amma's name. After 'rahu kaalam' she will come back overcoming all illness," he said.

Admitted late on Thursday night at Apollo hospital on Greams Road, Chennai, with fever and dehydration, Jaya is said to be stable now and is under observation according to hospital authorities. "Honorable Madam has no fever now and is on a normal diet. The Honorable chief minister is under observation," said a press release issued Friday afternoon by the hospital.

However, all roads that led to Greams Road, were flooded with AIADMK loyalists as they started pouring in from across the state.

"We did a morning puja at Vinayakar temple in Valsaravakkam. In the evening we will do a palabhishekam (Milk offering) at Shivan temple for the speedy recovery of our Amma," said EC Shekhar, former chairman of Valsaravakkam municipality, who has been waiting outside the hospital premises with other party members.

State ministers and party members made a beeline to enquire about the health condition of the party supremo and security was beefed up around the hospital premises. As the adjoining lane was closed for traffic, people had to cross the stretch on foot.

AIADMK insiders said the chief minister was feeling much better by Friday noon and she was instructing all her ministers to go and do their work instead of standing around the hospital. Many were expecting her discharge by afternoon after the 'raahu kalam'. However, with no news of discharge even after that, there were murmurs over when 'yamakandam' would be over and if Friday would be a good day to get discharged.