Right Hand Inflamed, Jayalalithaa Puts Thumb Print on Poll Papers

J Jayalalithaa. (Photo: IANS)

Tamil Nadu’s matriarch, Chief Minister Jayalalithaa has been hospitalised for over a month now. While health bulletins from Apollo Hospital say she’s interacting and “progressing gradually,” she affixed her thumb impression in place of her signature on the by-election affidavits of three AIADMK candidates.

Nomination papers uploaded by the Election Commission show that her left thumb impression was attested by Dr P Balaji of Rajiv Gandhi Government Hospital on Thursday with Apollo Hospital’s Dr Babu K Abraham as witness.

The signatory is presently hospitalised at Apollo Hospital, Greames Road, Chennai. Since the signatory has undergone a tracheotomy recently and has an inflamed right hand, she’s temporarily unable to apply her signature. Hence, she has affixed her left thumb impression on her own in my presence.

Statement attested by Dr P Balaji

Nomination papers uploaded by the Election Commission. (Photo Courtesy: The News Minute)

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

The hospital revealed that she was under treatment and observation for all vital parameters, and continued to receive respiratory support and passive physiotherapy.

Former MLA AK Bose filed his nomination for the Thiruparankundram assembly constituency, former minister Senthil Balaji filed his nomination for Aravakurichi and M Rangasamy for Thanjavur on Friday.

Polls to the Aravakurichi and Thanjavur assembly constituencies, which had originally been scheduled for 16 May, had been cancelled by the Election Commission after huge sums of money were seized by officials.

The EC had called for by-election to Thiruparankundram assembly constituency after AIADMK’s SM Seenivel died on 25 May.

By-elections for the three constituencies will be held on 19 November.

In the past month, there have been cases filed against at least 20 people for spreading rumours about Jayalalithaa’s health. With no clear picture of the status of Amma’s recovery, everyone in Tamil Nadu claims to have ‘inside information’ on her health.

(With inputs from The News Minute)