Ailing Chief Minister of India's Tamil Nadu hands power to deputy

The ailing Chief Minister of southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu has handed over all her responsibilities and portfolios to her deputy, officials said Wednesday.

"Under Clause (3) of Article 166 of the Constitution of India, Governor allocated the subjects hitherto dealt with by Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa to O Panneerselvam, minister of finance, personnel and administrative reforms," a statement issued by Governor's office Raj Bhavan said.

The decision to handover portfolios to Panneerselvam according to Governor was taken on advice of the incumbent Chief Minister.

Officials said Jayalalithaa continues to remain Chief Minister but Panneerselvam apart from holding the charges of her ministries would preside over the cabinet meetings.

The arrangement, according to officials, would last until Jayalalithaa's health improves and she resumes her duties.

Panneerselvam, a trusted aide of Jayalalithaa has filled in for her when she was arrested two years ago and previously in 2001 when she was barred by India's Supreme Court.

The Chief Minister was admitted in hospital on Sept. 22 for fever and dehydration. According to a recent health bulletin, she requires a longer stay in the hospital and has been on respiratory support for several days.

Initially her illness was kept secret. However, it triggered an uneasiness among her supporters in the state and triggered rumours.

On Tuesday, police in the state's capital city Chennai arrested two people for "spreading rumours" about Jayalalithaa's health.

Reports said police suspect her supporters could resort to violence and acts of self-immolation in the event of bad news related to her.

The 68-year-old Jayalalithaa, a former movie star has served as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu on numerous occasions since 1991. She is head of the regional All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Khazagham (AIADMK) party and her tenure was surrounded by controversies. She was even jailed in past on charges of corruption.

In between her stints as head of the government, Tamil Nadu was ruled by her great rival, the 93-year-old M Karunanidhi, leader of the DMK party.

Jayalalitha has starred in more than 100 films before joining politics. She was brought into politics by the then actor-turned-chief minister, MG Ramachandran, with whom she starred in many of her films.

Her supporters and partymen has given her the name - Amma which in Tamil language means mother. Endit