The 68-year-old Jayalalithaa was admitted to the hospital on September 22 for fever and dehydration. The doctors later said she needed a longer stay at the hospital as she was suffering from infection and put her on respiratory support. Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi came to Apollo Hospitals on October 7, and on the next day, came Leader of the Opposition in Tamil Nadu Assembly M.K.Stalin, of the DMK. From the neighbouring Puducherry, Lt. Governor Kiran Bedi, Chief Minister V.Narayanasamy and Leader of Opposition N.Rangasamy were the notable visitors. On October 12, BJP President Amit Shah and Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley came to Apollo Hospitals. But unlike Gandhi, the two did not meet the media waiting outside the hospital.