Sick Tamil politician hands over power as desperate fans hold vigil

Ailing south Indian politician Jayalalithaa Jayaram has handed many of her responsibilities to her deputy, her party said, as desperate fans held vigils for her recovery, with some resorting to self-harm.

The hugely popular chief minister of southern Tamil Nadu state, a former movie star, was admitted to hospital on Sept. 22 suffering from fever and dehydration and is on respiratory support.
Authorities have said little about the state of the 68-year-old’s health after several of her supporters resorted to self-harm when she was briefly jailed in 2014 on charges of corruption.
But that has not stopped some from performing sacrifices to try to change her fate.
Last week images in local media showed scores of children with metal arrows piercing their cheeks holding Jayalalithaa’s picture as they prayed for her recovery.
One supporter was injured when he set himself on fire, while an elderly man suspended himself from a crane with steel hooks pierced through his skin.
The state’s governor announced late Tuesday that her portfolios had been transferred to OP Panneerselvam, who has stepped in for her in the past, although she remains chief minister.
Jayalalithaa enjoys huge popularity in Tamil Nadu, where fans know her 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.
Her AIADMK party said on Wednesday she is “recovering and responding to the treatment.”
“Our party functionaries are performing whacky pujas and prayers as they are suffering to see the party leader admitted at the hospital for the past 21 days now,” party spokesperson CR Saraswathy told AFP.
Earlier, police arrested two people on charges of “inciting violence and spreading rumors,” an officer said.
The two were accused of posting false news on social media websites about the condition of Jayalalitha.
“The accused were arrested on Monday for posting false news on Facebook. We are taking these acts seriously,” Senthil Kumar, head of the serious crimes branch in the state capital Chennai, told AFP, without elaborating on the content of the posts. Forty-three similar cases have been filed against unknown persons and a hunt launched to arrest them, Kumar said.
Authorities have provided few updates on her condition, initially saying the 68-year-old leader was suffering from fever and dehydration.
On Oct. 3 the hospital said she was on respiratory support and a critical care expert was flown in from Britain.
Scores of her followers gather outside the hospital every day, praying in unusual ways for her recovery.
Jayalalitha, a former movie star known as “amma” or mother, has a cult following in one of the country’s most prosperous states. She is serving as chief minister for the third time after winning elections this year.
Police fear rumors could provoke her supporters to turn violent or even engage in self-harm.
Pictures showed scores of children with metal arrows piercing their cheeks holding Jayalalitha’s picture as they prayed for her recovery.
Local opposition parties have demanded in vain that the government issue regular health bulletins. A few individuals have approached the courts on the matter.
Jayalalitha is one of India’s most powerful women politicians but her career lasting more than three decades has been marred by corruption charges. She was jailed briefly on two occasions, most recently in 2014.
But she has repeatedly sprung back to power, mostly with the help of vast election-time giveaways that ranged from laptops to bicycles and kitchen appliances.

Source: Arab News