Have taken rebirth thanks to people's love, says Jayalalithaa

Chennai: AIADMK General Secretary and Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa on Sunday appealed to the people to support party candidates contesting elections and by-polls to four assembly constituencies in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.

“I wish to share the good news that I have taken a rebirth because of prayers and love from the people of Tamil Nadu, other states and several parts of the world. What else do I need when I have your love and affection?” Ms Jayalalithaa said in a statement issued by the AIADMK late on Sunday evening. The Chief Minister is recuperating at the Apollo Hospital where she was admitted on September 22.

In a first party-related statement with her signature on it since she was hospitalised, the AIADMK supremo said she was eagerly waiting to resume duties “very soon” after a complete recovery with the blessings of the Almighty.

Condoling the death of party persons who either committed suicide or died of shock after she was admitted to the hospital, Ms Jayalalithaa said she was saddened after hearing the news and that she has always believed that the “hard work and loyalty” should always be used for betterment of the AIADMK.

Through the statement, Ms Jayalalithaa also appealed to the people of Aravakurichi, Thanjavur, Thiruparankundram and Nellithope in Puducherry to vote for AIADMK candidates. “Keeping in mind the people-friendly schemes and development activities that my government has implemented so far, I request all of you to show the love and affection that you have for me and the party by voting for the AIADMK in large numbers,” the AIADMK leader said.

Regretting that she could not visit these constituencies and meet the cadre and observers who are working tirelessly for the party's victory in these four constituencies, the Chief Minister said her “heart and thoughts” are always with them.

She also asked the party cadre to ensure that party candidates in all the four assembly segments win the elections by a huge margin. “I had never taken rest. Hard work will never leave me,” she said in statement and added that she has been tirelessly working for the betterment of the people of Tamil Nadu and the AIADMK since the day she entered public life on the advice from her mentor late M.G. Ramachandran.

Ms Jayalalithaa's statement comes a day after Apollo Hospitals Chairman Prathap C Reddy said the Chief Minister has recovered and a decision on her discharge had not been taken as yet.