Security was beefed up around Chennai's Apollo Hospital as hundreds of distraught workers of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam gathered outside to pray for Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa who suffered a cardiac arrest on Sunday night and remained critical on Monday.
The Hindu reported that nine companies of Rapid Action Force (RAF) of CRPF have been put on stand-by and the state's entire police strength -- including companies of the Armed Reserve and Tamil Nadu Special Police -- has been mobilised. There were incidents of violence last night when AIADMK workers tried to break a police barricade to enter the hospital premises.
A team of doctors is monitoring her condition and trying their "very best", PTI reported.
The 68-year-old CM, who is fondly called 'amma', or mother, by her legions of supporters, has been put on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), a heart assist device, and was under the watch of cardiologists. For the past two months her followers, especially women, have gathered outside the hospital and offered prayers for her fast recovery. Last night too, they stood guard in pouring rain to receive any latest news of her condition.
State DGP T K Rajendran yesterday asked all police personnel to remain on duty "until further orders".
"They should report in full uniform with their vehicles for law and order bandobust duty until further orders," he said.
Tamil Nadu Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao, who is also the Governor of Maharashtra, air-dashed to the city from Mumbai and visited Apollo Hospitals last night.
Union Minister Pon Radhakrishnan, who arrived at the airport here this morning, said all BJP leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, wished for a complete recovery of Jayalalithaa and they were praying for her.
President Pranab Mukherjee, DMK leader M Karunanidhi, his son and opposition leader K Stalin, Union Ministers, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Chief Ministers and a host of leaders have expressed concern over Jayalalithaa's health condition and wished her speedy recovery.
All educational institutions in the state will function today.
Here are some responses from politicians:
(With inputs from agencies)