Jaya bids adieu

After an uncertainty-filled 75 days in hospital, and a tense final 24 hours, Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa, Amma to millions of Tamils and godmother to legions of AIADMK cadres, died at 11.30 pm at Apollo Hospitals on Monday night. She was 68. “It is with indescribable grief we announce the sad demise of our esteemed honourable chief minister of Tamil Nadu Puratchi Thalavi Amma at 11.30 pm today,“ a midnight statement from the hospital said. The state has announced seven days mourning.
Even as a convoy was standing by at the hospital gates to take Jayalalithaa's body to her Poes Garden residence Veda Nilayam, AIADMK legislators met at the party headquarters to elect finance minister O Panneerselvam as the successor.
Jayalalithaa was taken to Apollo Hospitals on September 22 after she collapsed of respiratory distress at her Poes Garden residence late that evening. Initial reports from the hospital said she was brought in with fever and dehydration, and doctors soon diagnosed sepsis, a life-threatening infection that spreads in the blood, as the underlying reason. Intensive treatment provided by a team of experts succeeded in reviving her to an extent.Just when it appeared that she had overcome the worst, she suffered a cardiac arrest around 4 pm on Sunday.Since then, there was little hope.
The past 24 hours witnessed considerable anxiety , tension and uncertainty across the state. While millions spent a sleepless night and a day with prayers, the AIADMK readied itself for the eventuality and elected OPS as the legislature party leader.
Around 6 pm, a few Tamil television channels reported that the chief minister had died, sending Jayalaltihaa followers into despair and a few hundreds in front of the Apollo Hospitals into fury. They broke police barricades and threw stones; police resorted to mild force. Soon, Apollo Hospitals put out a statement saying Jayalalithaa was still on life support, forcing the channels to retract the news. At the AIADMK headquarters, the party flag which was on half-mast after the news broke, fluttered high again.
Shops downed shutters by early afternoon, vehicles went off the roads; and schools, colleges and offices called it a day early. The doctors, however, refused to give up.“She hasn't woken up after the cardiac arrest,“ a doctor said. “But we are hopeful.“
Dr Richard Beale, the intensivist who flew down from London several times to treat Jayalalithaa, said in a statement: “Unfortunately and in spite of the progress she had made, her underlying health condition inevitability meant that the risk of further problems always remained ... The situation is grave, but I can confirm that everything possible is being done to give her the best chance of surviving this shocking event.“
Apollo Hospitals executive director Sangita Reddy tweeted around 2.45 pm: “Despite our best efforts, our beloved CM remains in a grave situation.“ Four specialists from AIIMS, Delhi were assisting Apollo Hospitals doctors till late in the evening when the chief minister remained on life support systems for the heart, lungs and the kidneys.
A team of doctors finally pronounced her dead at 11.30 pm.

Tamil Nadu government has announced a week-long state morning beginning Tuesday, an order issued by chief secretary P Rama Mohana Rao said minutes after the news of her death was declared. Officials said J Jayalalithaa's body will be taken to her Poes Garden residence before being taken to Rajaji Hall in the city in the early hours.Arrangements are being made for the public to pay last respects to the departed soul. Last rites will be held at 4.30 pm on Tuesday.  The national flag on all government buildings will be flown at half-mast. No official programme will be held during the mourning period, it added.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who enjoyed a good personal equation with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, tonight expressed deep sadness over her demise and said it has left “a huge void in Indian politics“. Hailing the AIADMK supremo who passed away at a Chennai hospital tonight, Modi said her connect with citizens, concern for welfare of the poor, the women and marginalised will always be “a source of inspiration“.