On October 28, three AIADMK candidates filed nomination papers to contest elections in Thanjavur, Aravakurichi and Thiruparankundram Assembly constituencies, with Jayalalithaa's thumb impression instead of her signature. The 68-year-old leader has been in hospital for over a month since being admitted on September 22 with complaints of fever and dehydration. In subsequent health updates however doctors have said she is suffering from a lung infection and is on respiratory support. As political parties in Tamil Nadu gear up for by-elections in three constituencies on November 19, the questions around Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa's health still loom large. The thumb impressions have been authenticated by Dr P Balaji, Professor of Minimal Access Surgery, Madras Medical College. A note by him added, "The signatory has undergone trachestomy recently and has an inflamed right hand she is temporarily unable to affix her signature. Hence she has affixed her left thumb impression on her own in my presence."
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