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One of India's most powerful politicians and six-time chief minister of the southern state of Tamil Nadu, J Jayalalithaa, remained on life support in a Chennai hospital late today.

Some Indian media outlets earlier reported that Jayalalithaa, 68, had died, prompting the hospital treating her to issue a strong denial.

Apollo Hospital said the Tamil Nadu chief minister, who enjoys a huge following in southern India, was on life support and its doctors and those from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) were continuously monitoring her condition.

"Some TV channels are wrongly reporting that the Honourable CM is no more. It is totally baseless and false," the hospital said.

Jayalalithaa's party All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) briefly lowered its flag to half-mast at its headquarters in Chennai following those reports.

Apollo Hospital's joint managing director Sangita Reddy said in the afternoon that Jayalalithaa was "in a grave situation" despite "our best efforts."

Jayalalithaa suffered a cardiac arrest yesterday evening.

She was admitted to hospital on Sept 22 with a fever, dehydration and a respiratory infection but was said to have improved considerably before yesterday's deterioration in her health.

A 1960s cinema idol, she is a charismatic figure in Indian politics.

- Bernama

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