Embattled by mounting rumours about Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa’s health, the AIADMK has launched a social media campaign to counter the speculation that the 68-year-old leader is seriously ill or has an incurable disease.
The party tweeted a link on Monday where users could go to and change their profile photos on the microblogging site to say “My CM is fine” and “No more rumours”.
“All is well with Puratchi Thalaivi Amma. Click this link, change your profile pic & put a full stop to rumours,” the party’s twitter handle wrote.
Jayalalithaa was admitted to Chennai’s Apollo Hospital on September 22 with high fever and dehydration. Over the next two weeks, information around her health was strictly controlled – triggering a flurry of rumours, fake photos and audio messages.
{{/usCountry}}Jayalalithaa was admitted to Chennai’s Apollo Hospital on September 22 with high fever and dehydration. Over the next two weeks, information around her health was strictly controlled – triggering a flurry of rumours, fake photos and audio messages.
{{/usCountry}}Last week, the government flew in specialists from Delhi’s All India Institute of Medical Sciences, fuelling speculation that the CM’s internal organs were severely damaged. The hospital has said that the CM is recovering and responding well to treatment.
But this has been unable to extinguish the political controversy that erupted after her arch rival and DMK chief, M Karunanidhi, demanded photographic evidence of her wellbeing. Despite assurances from the state government and the hospital, the DMK has repeatedly insisted that an interim CM be put in place and more details about Jayalalithaa’s health released.