Bharatiya Janata Party leader Subramanian Swamy on Friday sought the imposition of President’s Rule in Tamil Nadu, saying chief minister J Jayalalithaa’s ‘indefinite hospitalisation’ has caused “administrative disarray” in the state, The Hindu reported. Swamy said in Jayalalithaa’s absence from office, a “retired chief secretary” was inexpertly running the state’s administration.

Swamy alleged that the Islamic State had activated its “sleeper cell” in districts such as Ramanathapuram, Madurai and Kanyakumari, according to The Indian Express. He further said that “disruptive groups such as underground Naxalites” and “leftover” sections of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam were looking to create “massive disorder and lawlessness” in Tamil Nadu.

The BJP leader urged Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh to “invoke” Article 356 of the Constitution as well as impose the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act in southern districts of Tamil Nadu and the state capital of Chennai, “for a period of six months”. He also asked Singh to place the state’s legislative assembly in “suspended animation” till Jayalalithaa was able to resume office.

Swamy added that “pre-emptive action by the Union government” was constitutional as the hospital where Jayalalithaa is being treated had said she was required to stay there for a “further period”.

On Thursday, the Apollo Hospital said that the chief minister required a longer stay at the facility. The hospital said that the All Indian Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam party chief’s health continued to improve and that she was making gradual progress. Jayalalithaa was admitted to the private hospital for dehydration and fever on September 22.