The All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam on Thursday said that Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa is breathing “on her own”, and that she is likely to leave hospital “any day”, PTI reported. The ruling party said that her lung infection has been cured and that she has been undergoing physiotherapy. Party spokesperson C Ponnaiyyan said her vitals and all health parameters are “excellent”. “She is having food by herself, she is sitting, she is able to talk freely... she is cheerful,” he said.

Separately, Apollo Hospitals chairman Dr PC Reddy said the Tamil Nadu chief minister was still being kept in an Intensive Care Unit to prevent infections, ANI reported. She had “recovered completely” and was in a position to carry out her advisory duties as chief minister, Reddy said.

Earlier this week, Jayalalithaa had released her first statement after being admitted to Apollo Hospital, Chennai, on September 22. In a two-page statement, she said she had “taken a rebirth” and thanked AIADMK members and the public for their support.

Jayalalithaa’s letter came days before the elections and by-elections in Aravakurichi, Thanjavur, Tirupparankunram and Nellithope in Puducherry, which are scheduled for November 19. The AIADMK leader said she could not campaign personally, but that her ”mind and heart” were with the people. ”I am awaiting the news of party’s victory in all the constituencies,” she said, expressing “anguish” over the suicides committed by party workers since her hospitalisation.

The Tamil Nadu chief minister’s health has been a matter of concern for supporters despite assurances from Apollo that she was recovering well. Doctors from the United Kingdom and Delhi’s All India Institute of Medical Sciences had been flown to Chennai to help with her treatment.