Chennai, Dec 4 (PTI): The condition of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, who is hospitalised here since September 22, deteriorated today as she suffered cardiac arrest. "The honourable Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, who is undergoing treatment at Apollo Hospitals, suffered a cardiac arrest this evening," said a statement tonight by Apollo Hospital where she is admitted.

"She is being treated and monitored by a team of experts, including cardiologists, pulmonologist and critical care specialists," Chief Operating Officer and head of transformation of Apollo Hospital Dr Subbaiah Viswanathan said in the statement. News about the 68-year-old leader suffering the cardiac arrest came hours after her party AIADMK said she will return home "soon" as an AIIMS expert team had confirmed that she has completely recovered after over two months of hospitalisation.

Soon after the Apollo statement came, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh spoke to Tamil Nadu Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao and enquired about Jayalalithaa's health. Rao, who is the Governor of Maharashtra and holding the additional charge of Tamil Nadu, told Singh that he was rushing to Chennai from Mumbai where he was to attend a Navy Day event today.

During the 10-minute telephonic conversation, Rao briefed Singh about the health condition of the Chief Minister and conveyed that doctors attending to her were taking all necessary steps.

He told the Home Minister that he was reaching Chennai to personally monitor the situation in Tamil Nadu arising out of the sudden deterioration in the health of Jayalalithaa, official sources said.

Earlier in the day, AIADMK spokesperson C Ponnaiyan told reporters, "The AIIMS doctors visited the hospital yesterday and after examining her (Jayalalithaa's) health, they shared the good news with us that Amma (as Jayalalithaa is fondly called by AIADMK cadre, meaning mother) has completely recovered."

Ponnaiyan said the Chief Minister was doing physical exercises, undergoing physiotherapy, and was having food on her own besides advising officers on issues related to government and party activities.

Jayalalithaa was hospitalised on September 22 after she complained of fever and dehydration. The hospital, which had been issuing bulletins on her health status, had later said she was being treated for infection with respiratory support, among others.

Apollo Hospitals Chairman Dr C Prathap Reddy had recently said Jayalalithaa was in good health and was speaking using a valve attached to the tracheostomy tube. Whole body physiotherapy was being done, he had said, adding that she was normally recuperating after being in bed for several weeks and would herself decide when to go home.

Meanwhile, Home Ministry officials are in constant touch with the officials of Tamil Nadu government and assessing the situation. The official sources in Delhi said that law and order situation in Tamil Nadu was normal so far and adequate central forces were available in the state to assist the state administration. The central government will provide all assistance to Tamil Nadu government if any help is required, the sources said.