Jaya celebrates 66th birthday at AIADMK headquarters

Her birthday was marked by usual festive mood as a 66-kg cake was cut

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa today turned 66.

Putting her partymen into the poll mode on her birthday, the AIADMK General Secretary named the party's candidates for the 40 Lok Sabha seats -- 39 in Tamil Nadu and the lone Puducherry Constituency.

Tamil Nadu Governor K Rosaiah, Ministers and alliance party leaders besides many members of the tinseltown greeted Jayalalithaa on the occasion.

Her birthday was marked by the usual festive mood as a 66-kg cake was cut at the AIADMK headquarters here 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.

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.

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.