Chennai: Waging a legal battle against her conviction in an assets case, AIADMK General Secretary and former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on Friday invoked her party founder, the late M G Ramachandran and said that a life lived overcoming challenges and miseries was special.

In her message to party workers ahead of Ramachandran's 98th birth anniversary on January 17, she said the love and respect "we have for him" should be reflected in ensuring the growth of AIADMK.

"There cannot be a life without challenges and miseries. But it will be special (only) when one faces them with grit and overcomes them. The life of Revolutionary Leader MGR (as he is addressed) teaches us this lesson," she said.

Having been convicted in the Rs 66.66 crore disproportionate assets case by a Bengaluru Special court, Jayalalithaa is fighting a legal battle against her conviction in Karnataka High court even as the state is all set for its general elections due next year.

Tracing the political history of the charming actor-turned-politician, Jayalalithaa, in an apparent reference to her arch rival and DMK president M Karunanidhi, said Ramachandran had founded AIADMK to counter the 'evil force that usurped the movement founded on the ideals of (Dravidian veteran) C N Annadurai.'

She said by allowing her to take forward the party and thus serve people, Ramachandran had done her a 'big favour.'

The love and respect the party workers had towards Ramachandran should reflect in keeping the party intact, she said.