Secretive Amma, Sociable Sushma: The Case of Two Ailing Leaders

Sushma Swaraj’s ill-health can be openly discussed by people on social media, then why the secrecy with Amma?

Be it the north-south divide or the political strategies, Jayalalithaa and Sushma Swaraj have extremely different stories. (Photo: Rhythum Seth/The Quint)

In 140 characters on Wednesday, Sushma Swaraj set a new benchmark for ailing politicians. The External Affairs Minister tweeted that she had kidney failure and was undergoing tests for a kidney transplant.

Such a voluntary disclosure would be seen as out of character in Tamil Nadu, where Jayalalithaa has been admitted to Apollo Hospitals in Chennai for 58 days now. Mum was the word on Amma’s medical condition that prompted her urgent admission to hospital on the evening of 22 September.

In fact, in sharp contrast to Sushma Swaraj spelling out that she is on dialysis, an attempt was made to pull wool over everyone’s eyes by saying the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister is only suffering from dehydration.

Also Read: Jaya’s Health ‘Progressing Gradually’, Treatment Underway: Apollo

It was only a week later when Dr Richard Beale, an intensivist who specialises in care for critical patients, was flown in from London that the truth tumbled out. The fact that she is on respiratory support came out much later.

Why is it that Swaraj thinks nothing about making public her condition, while Jayalalithaa wears the cloak of secrecy?

This despite both occupying two very important political positions in India.

Also Read: AIADMK’s IT Warriors Scour Net for Jaya Health Rumours, File FIRs

One could argue that it is a north-south divide, with people in the peninsula shy to put their private lives out in public. But that would be too much of a generalisation. In this case, it is largely to do with the political ecosystem both belong to and their own statures as leaders in their parties.

Jayalalithaa has the image akin to a Goddess, someone seen as infallible, revered as the Puratchi Thalaivi, the revolutionary leader. Unlike Swaraj, she is the supreme leader of the party, someone who commands complete loyalty.

In the political theatre of Tamil Nadu, accessibility is not a virtue. More so in the AIADMK. Jayalalithaa has perfected that art by neither mingling with the public like any politician in any state would normally do, nor interacting with the media. The aloofness has added to the aura of a larger-than-life figure.

A woman walks in front of a portrait of Jayalalithaa in Chennai. (Photo: Reuters)

The fact is that this style of operating has won her electoral success in 2011, 2014 and 2016. Therefore, it is only natural for Jayalalithaa to conclude that the masses approve of this iron curtain approach.

Swaraj operates in a different political milieu. She knows that in the gossip-loving Lutyens Delhi, her absence on the day Parliament met for the winter session would set ignorant tongues wagging, particularly with the Opposition going all guns blazing on the demonetisation issue.

Also Read: Amma’s Illness: Woes of a One-Person Party

Though a section of the mainstream media was aware of Swaraj’s medical condition, it chose not to write about it. But social media, unaware of the issue, would have speculated over her absence.

It was politically prudent to put the possibility of any rumour-mongering to rest.

It also has to do with the worlds they operate in. Swaraj's world is the Twitter world. Anyone who follows her on the micro-blogging site and is familiar with her style of functioning would know that she is there for you in your hour of distress.

A passport lost, stranded in a foreign land, Indian embassy not helpful enough – all you need to do is tag the responsive Sushma Swaraj and the doors open for you. So, Swaraj putting out details on Twitter is in keeping with a need to keep her constituency informed.

Jayalalithaa’s world is not the Twitter world. Her constituency largely is not the smartphone-using world, but rural Tamil Nadu that admired her as a film star and now adores her as a leader.

This crowd prays for her in temples instead of posting ‘Get well soon’ messages on Facebook. The CM is neither on Twitter nor Facebook. Unlike DMK supremo Karunanidhi who at 93, has chosen to be on social media, Jayalalithaa chooses to give information on a need-to-know-basis.

Jayalalithaa's political mentor was MGR, who was also averse to letting the world know about his real health condition when he was admitted to Apollo Hospitals in 1984. In fact, it was almost by chance the world came to know that MGR had a kidney problem.

Someone saw him being wheeled into the floor at Apollo Hospitals where dialysis was done, and the word leaked. Jaya has copied the MGR template of secrecy.

Supporters of Jayalalithaa hold her posters as they sit on a fast during a protest. (Photo: Reuters)

It also has to do with their backgrounds as film stars. Jayalalithaa, like MGR, knows silver screen idols have to be seen as unattainable. Even after embracing the political milieu, Jaya has chosen the same distant approach.

Film stars and powerful political leaders are not supposed to look vulnerable to ailments like commoners. A cut-above-the-rest image was noticed even during her election campaign, when Jayalalithaa’s chair was kept at a different level from the one where her candidates sat.

Apollo Hospitals last issued a medical bulletin on 21 October. Since then, Apollo group chairman Dr Prathap Reddy has twice spoken, stating that Jayalalithaa could choose the time of her discharge. The AIADMK put out a note last week in which Jayalalithaa claimed she has taken a rebirth.

The flip side of this stinginess in releasing information is that rumour mills worked overtime in Chennai. But instead of providing evidence that Jayalalithaa is on the road to recovery, the Tamil Nadu police went on overdrive, booking cases against more than 50 people, accusing them of ‘spreading rumours’.

In one particular case, two bank employees in Coimbatore were arrested merely for gossiping about Jayalalithaa's health.

Also Read: Cases Against 20 People for Spreading Rumours About Jaya’s Health

On the other hand, Swaraj thanked all those who offered their kidney to her, again on Twitter.

This is not to say that Jayalalithaa's approach of opacity is better or that Swaraj's transparency is the right thing to do. Both being consummate politicians have merely chosen what they think suits them best.

(The writer is a senior journalist. He can be reached at @Iamtssudhir. This is an opinion piece and the views expressed above are the author’s own. The Quint neither endorses nor is responsible for the same.)