CHENNAI: Causing ripples in political circles in Tamil Nadu, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi made a surprise landing in Chennai on Friday to visit Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, undergoing treatment for over a fortnight at Apollo Hospitals.
Amid his tight schedule in poll-bound Uttar Pradesh, he had made himself free to visit Apollo Hospitals and spent about 35 minutes. Presumably, he was briefed by hospital chairman Dr Pratap C Reddy on the health conditions of Jayalalithaa, who has been under observation since the night of September 22.
Emerging out of the hospital at 12.25 pm, Rahul wished Jayalalithaa a speedy recovery. “Let God give all his blessings for her full recovery,” he told the waiting reporters outside the hospital.
He informed that Jayalalithaa was recovering well. “Let her get maximum energy so that she gets well soon,” the Congress leader added.
Rahul Gandhi’s visit is viewed as a politically loaded one, given the bitter relations his party and its president Sonia Gandhi have with Jayalalithaa for more than one-and-a-half decade.
Informed sources said he could have been persuaded by the newly-appointed Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) president S Thirunavukkarasar, a former AIADMK strongman, who had stood by Jayalalithaa during the turbulent times after the demise of party founder and former chief minister, late M G Ramachandran.
Rahul Gandhi’s visit has sent a strong message to DMK, overshadowing the protest fast observed by the party’s treasurer M K Stalin at Thanjavur during the day to protest the Centre’s somersault in setting up the Cauvery Management Board.
“Rahul Gandhi had never visited DMK chief M Karunanidhi despite his party being an ally. But his visit to Apollo Hospitals to inquire about the health conditions of Jayalalithaa assumes significance,” a political observer said, adding that it indicated the Congress leadership’s readiness for a shift.
Several leaders of the Congress in Tamil Nadu are unhappy that they were taken for ride by the DMK on seat-sharing for the local bodies, elections to which were stayed by the Madras High Court.
Meanwhile, speaking to Express, senior politician ‘Panruti’ S Ramachandran said Rahul’s visit was a courtesy call to convey regards from himself and his mother, Congress president Sonia Gandhi. “This is probably a way to repair the strained relationship Sonia Gandhi had with our leader during the UPA regime. Anyhow, we welcome this as it is a healthy trend in politics,” he said.
Echoing him, a party veteran added, “Political weather can change at any time. Though opponents in politics, Sonia Gandhi respects Jayalalithaa as a mass leader, and the latter is not a person to hang on parroting the past that party did this or that to us etc.”
Striking a cautious note, State BJP president Tamilisai Soundararajan said it was normal to visit someone who has fallen ill. “It is a sign of healthy politics,” she added. However, senior leaders, on condition of anonymity, expressed their scepticism that this was a normal visit. “Rahul is exploring every minor possibility for political advantage and I perceive this as an attempt in that direction,” said a senior leader.
(With inputs from T Muruganandham)