Jayalalithaa turns 59

Chennai, Feb 24 (UNI) AIADMK General Secretary and former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa turned 59 today.

BJP leader and leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha L K Advani, former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and Telugu Desam Party leader N Chandrababu Naidu and MDMK leader Vaiko were among those who greeted her over phone.

Even as the AIADMK supremo had a quiet birthday at her farm house in Siruthavur village, about 30 km from here, her party functionaries and cadres across the state celebrated the day in a grand manner.

A huge cake, weighing 59 kg, was cut by party Presidium Chairman E Madhusudhanan at party headquarters here and distributed to cadres who had gathered in large number. A souvenir was also released on the occasion.

Slogans like 'Long live Puratchi Thalaivi (revolutionary leader),' 'long live Idhaya Deivam (the Goddess who has adorned the heart),' rent the air amid bursting of crackers.

Mass feeding, all-religion prayers, distribution of assistance to the poor, blood donation and free medical camps marked the birthday celebrations of Ms Jayalalithaa across Tamil Nadu as well as in Puducherry, Karnataka, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, New Delhi and Andaman and Nicobar Islands, a party release here said.

While women cadres of the party, headed by Women Wing Secretary and former Minister B Valarmathi, held a candle-lit prayer at a church in Ashok Nagar, former Ministers O Panneerselvam, K A Sengottaiyan and D Jayakumar pulled a silver chariot at famous Kaaligambal Temple here yesterday for the well-being of the former Chief Minister.

UNI