Jayalalithaa thanks Rajinikanth, Maneka Gandhi for support

Chennai: AIADMK supremo J Jayalalithaa has thanked Union Minister Maneka Gandhi for her "heartwarming missive" in the wake of her sentencing in a graft case and actor Rajinikanth for his "gracious sentiments" on her return to home from jail.

The Union Minister of Women and Child Development had said in a letter to Jayalalithaa that she would be happy to do anything "to make this time less onerous."

In her reply to Gandhi, Jayalalithaa said the letter "touched me deeply."

"I was especially moved by the fact that, despite your busy schedule as Union Minister, Ministry of Women and Child Development, you found the time to think of me and send your heartwarming missive."

"I thank you for your thoughtfulness and pray that the Almighty may bless you and your family with all that is good," she said in a letter, which was released by AIADMK on Wednesday.

The 66 year-old former Chief Minister also thanked Tamil icon Rajnikanth for his "kind and gracious sentiments."

"I pray that the Almighty may bless you with long life, good health, prosperity and success in all your activities.

Please convey my best wishes to all the members of your family," Jayalalithaa told Rajinikanth. On Sunday, the AIADMK had released the letters by Gandhi and Rajnikanth to Jayalalithaa. The Union Minister while expressing her support and sympathy with the party supremo had said that she would be happy to do anything "to make this time less onerous."

Gandhi had also said that "this time will be over soon and we will see you formally back at the helm of administration again."

Rajinikanth, also a resident of Poes Garden, had said he was "glad" to see the former Chief Minister back in her residence.

Jayalalithaa had stepped out of a Bangalore Jail on Saturday after the Supreme Court granted her bail in the Rs 66.65 crore disproportionate assets case.