London, Mar 15 : French Justice Minister Rachida Dati, who made a lightning return to work just days after giving birth, only to lose her job, has launched a political comeback.

The 43-year-old, who was considered President Nicolas Sarkozy's favourite among the "Sarko-zettes" - his women ministers, is letting everybody know that she will run for mayor of Paris, reports The Times.

Her associates have hinted that she wants to prove that her fortunes are no longer purely dependent on the whims of her estranged mentor, Sarkozy.

Sarkozy ordered Dati to give up her high-profile post as Justice Minister from June to take the unglamorous position of No 2 on his centre-right party's list for the greater Paris area in the European elections.

Dati's aides said she has decided to make a virtue of her exile to the European Parliament and prove that she is capable of becoming a successful, elected politician.

They say that Dati wants to emerge as the right-wing challenger to the Socialist Mayor of Paris, Bertrand Delanoe. (ANI)