After spending one and half month in a hospital, AIADMK General Secretary and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa finally spoke up on Sunday. The Chief Minister urged the people to help party candidates who are contesting in elections and by-polls in 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 recovering at the Apollo Hospital where she was admitted on September 22.

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

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

In the statement, Ms Jayalalithaa also requested 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 supremacy in these four constituencies", the Chief Minister said.

She also urged the party staff to assure that party candidates in all the four assembly parts win the elections by a huge margin.

“I had never taken rest. Hard work will never leave me,” she said in a statement and added that "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."

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BY M. DIVYA SRI