PM, Narendra Modi greet Jayalalithaa on her 66th birthday

Chennai, Feb 24: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate

were among the leaders who greeted Tamil Nadu counterpart and

supremo J Jayalalithaa on the occasion of her 66th

.

Singh greeted Jayalalithaa over the telephone this morning and she thanked him for it, an official press release said.

Modi took to the microblogging social networking website Twitter to wish her on her birthday:

On the occasion of her birthday, the parry cadres conducted a series of programmes including distributrion of welfare schemes and health camps.

Besides Modi, Tamil Nadu Governor K Rosaiah, ministers and alliance party leaders of the tinseltown greeted Jayalalithaa on the occasion.

Governor K Rosaiah greeted Jayalaltihaa over phone and sent her a greeting letter along with a bouquet.

Jayalalithaa would begin the election campaign for Lok Sabha polls on March 3 from Kanchipuram, about 70 km from Chennai.

The "whirlwind" first phase of the campaign would cover several regions of Tamil Nadu, including Nagapattinam, Kanyakumari and Chidambaram, an AIADMK press release said.

Jayalalithaa's election campaigns schedule details

Starting on March 3, the first phase would end on April 5, it said adding that "the party general secretary will address public meetings canvassing support for candidates of AIADMK and its allies."

Soon after declaring the list of candidates for the Lok Sabha elections, Jayalalithaa would start her campaign by seeking support for Maragatham Kumaravel contesting from Kanchipuram (Reserved) seat.

The next day she would be at Jain College in Meenambakkam here, falling under Sriperumbudur Constituency.

A 66 kg cake was cut at the AIADMK headquarters on Jayalalithaa's birthday.

On March 6, she would address a meeting each in Nagapattinam (Reserved) and Mayiladuthurai Constituencies.

Later, she would speak at Nagercoil (March 9), Chidambaram (reserved, March 11), Erode (March 13), Tirupur (March 13), Kallakurichi (March 15), Ramanathapuram (March 18), Tiruchirapalli (March 19), and Virudhunagar and Sivaganga (March 21), the release said.

On March 23, she would address a meeting in Puducherry followed by Dindigul (March 25), Vellore(March 28), Tuticorin (April 1), Theni (April 2) and Thenkasi (April 5), it added.

Jayalalithaa grand birthday celebrations

Her birthday was marked by the usual festive mood as a 66-kg cake "designed like parliament" was cut at the AIADMK headquarters even as loyal party workers turned up to have a glimpse of their 'Puratchi Thalaivi' (Revolutionary Leader).

Prayers and welfare activities also marked the birthday of 'Amma' (Mother) as she is fondly addressed by partymen while microphones in street-corners played popular film songs of Jayalalithaa opposite her mentor, the charismatic MG Ramachandran, both yesteryear actors who made successful political careers.

Tamil Nadu Music and Fine Arts University launched a 66-hour music and art festival starting today to commemorate her birthday.

In the neighbouring Union Territory of Puducherry, the birthday celebrations were marked by distribution of garments to the poor besides cycle rickshaws, sewing machines, household utensils and several other commodities under the party's welfare schemes covering 6,600 beneficiaries.

The party's local unit secretary A Anbalagan, MLA launched the welfare schemes along with the other legislators of the party and functionaries at various centres here.

Special poojas were performed to presiding deities at the Manakula Vinayakar and Sithananda Swamigal temples to seek the blessings of the Almighty for the leader's long life, Anbalagan said.

Special prayers were also held at a number of churches and mosques. Party workers distributed sweets.

Jayalalithaa started her career as a Rajya Sabha MP after being introduced to politics by Ramachandran.

She later consolidated her position in the party and went on to capture power for the first time in 1991.

OneIndia News

(With PTI inputs)