Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister and Biju Janata Dal (BJD) supremo Naveen Patnaik turned 78 years old on Monday. However, the Chief Minister has said that he is not celebrating his birthday today as his elder sister Gita Mehta breathed her last a month ago. He has also requested people not to visit his Naveen Niwas residence to wish him on his birthday.
Nevertheless, prominent personalities across the nation wished the septuagenarian leader on his birthday. Taking to his X (formerly Twitter) handle, Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote, “My greetings to Odisha CM Shri Naveen Patnaik Ji on his birthday. May he be blessed with a long and healthy life. @Naveen_Odisha”
Union Minister Piyush Goyal wrote on X, Warm birthday greetings to the Chief Minister of Odisha, @Naveen_Odisha ji.”
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma wished the Chief Minister, writing, “Heartiest birthday wishes to Hon’ble Chief Minister of Odisha Shri Naveen Patnaik ji. Prayers to Maa Kamakhya for his long life and good health in the service of the nation.”
Meanwhile, many ministers of Odisha and political leaders, cutting across party lines, wished the Chief Minister a happy birthday and good health. The Opposition leaders in Odisha had wished the Chief Minister a day in advance.
Born on October 16, 1946, to former Chief Minister Biju Patnaik and his wife Gyan Devi, Naveen is the 14th Chief Minister of Odisha representing the Hinjili Assembly constituency since 2000. He is also the first president of the Biju Janata Dal which is continuing since 1997.
Naveen Patnaik is the longest-serving Chief Minister of Odisha and as of 2023, one of the longest-serving Chief Ministers of any Indian state, holding the post for over two decades, and only the third Indian Chief Minister after Pawan Chamling and Jyoti Basu to win five consecutive terms as Chief Minister of an Indian state.
