Chennai, Oct 8  Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J.Jayalalithaa continues to be under constant montoring by specialist doctors, said Apollo Hospital on Saturday.

In a statement issued here, Apollo Hospitals said she is under constant monitoring by intensivists and consultants in the panel.

"The respiratory support is closely watched and adjusted. Lungs decongestion treatment is being continued. All other comprehensive measures including nutrition, supportive therapy and passive physiotherapy are underway," the statement said.

Meanwhile, the debate whether an interim Chief Minister will be named is going on in the state after Apollo Hospitals earlier said Jayalalithaa requires a longer stay. The ruling AIADMK has however ruled out any need of such a measure. 

This issue also gained weight as Governor Ch.Vidyasagar Rao met two senior ministers on Friday and discussed the state's general administration in the aftermath of Jayalalithaa's hospitalisation, while BJP MP Subramanian Swamy on Friday urged Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh to impose President's Rule in the state following the prolonged hospitalisation of Jayalalithaa and her remaining incommunicado.

However AIADMK continues to maintain its stand that there is no legal necessity for a substitute Chief Minister.

Speaking to IANS, AIADMK spokesperson Avadi Kumar maintained: "There is no need for a temporary or substitute Chief Minister at the current juncture. There is also no legal necessity."

Kumar said when there were legal hurdles in Jayalalithaa holding the post, Finance Minister O.Panneerselvam was chosen as the Chief Minister, and once the legal problems were sorted out, Jayalalithaa was sworn in as the Chief Minister again.

He recalled that AIADMK founder M.G.Ramachandran won the assembly election in 1984 while he was in a hospital in the US and was sworn in as Chief Minister on his arrival.

Political commentators say one method to clear the issue is to distribute the portfolios handled by Jayalalithaa to other senior ministers.

"The situation cannot continue for long. The portfolios handled by Jayalalithaa may most probably be distributed to senior ministers," political commentator Maalan Narayanan told IANS.

With Jayalalithaa in the hospital, it is unthinkable for the party to elect another person even as an interim Chief Minister.

The 68-year old Jayalalithaa handles the portfolios of Public, Indian Administrative Service, Indian Police Service, Indian Forest Service, General Administration, District Revenue Officers, Police and Home.

Jayalalitha was admitted to Apollo Hospital on September 22 for fever and dehydration.

On Thursday, Apollo Hospitals said that the consensus opinion of all experts is that Jayalalithaa will require a longer stay in the hospital and the line of treatment given to her be continued.

"The present treatment regimen includes continued respiratory support, neubilisation, drugs to decongest the lungs, antibiotics, nutrition, general nursing care and supportive therapy," it said, adding she Jayalalithaa is making gradual progress but not disclosing how long she may have to stay in the hospital.