Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa will soon be discharged from hospital, the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam claimed on Thursday. Party spokesperson CR Saraswathy told PTI, "Amma [Jayalalithaa] has progressed very well under the daily monitoring of Apollo Hospital doctors and specialists and soon she will return home."

Saraswathy added that the chief minister has been advised to rest for a few days. Former AIADMK minister and Bharatiya Janata Party leader HV Hande echoed Saraswathy. “I am confident she will return home within a week or 10 days,” said Hande after meeting doctors treating Jayalalithaa.

The chief minister has been under the constant supervision of specialists in Apollo Hospital ever since she was admitted to the facility on September 22. A three-member panel of doctors from Delhi's All India Institute of Medical Sciences provided further assistance. Richard Beale, a specialist from United Kingdom, was also flown down to Chennai for her treatment.

The chief minister's health has been a major cause for concern in the state. AIADMK supporters are still holding special prayers all over the state for her. One of her supporters committed suicide in Tirupur district on October 13 after hearing reports that her health was deteriorating.

The announcement is aimed at putting an end to all kinds of speculation about her health that has blown up since she was admitted to hospital. So far, eight people have been arrested for "spreading rumours" about her condition, and more than 50 cases have been registered. On October 10, the AIADMK had launched a social media campaign, urging supporters to help end the speculation. The party asked supporters to use the campaign's image as their profile picture on social media and use the hashtags #MyCMIsFine and #NoMoreRumours.

Opposition leader MK Stalin, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, Nita Ambani and Kollywood actor Rajinikanth were among those who have visited Apollo Hospital, but none were allowed inside her ward.