BHUBANESHWAR: Birthday wishes poured in from across the country for chief minister Naveen Patnaik who turned 71 today.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to Twitter to wish the Odisha chief minister. “Birthday wishes to Odisha CM Shri Naveen Patnaik. I pray that he leads a long life blessed with good health,” Prime Minister's post said. Unlike previous years when the birthday celebrations were a low key affair, the chief minister cut a cake in the presence of several BJD leaders, ministers and well-wishers.
A large number of people were at Naveen Nivas with flowers to wish him. Union Minister for petroleum and natural gas Dharmendra Pradhan also wished the chief minister. "Warm birthday greetings to Chief Minister of Odisha Shri @Naveen_Odisha Babu. May god bless him with good health and long life", he said in his Twitter post.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said "Happy birthday Naveen babu @Naveen_Odisha Wishing you good health and happiness."
Rajasthan chief minister Vasundhara Raje tweeted, "Warm wishes to @Naveen_Odisha ji on his birthday. May the Almighty bless you with good health and happiness".
Leader of the opposition in the Odisha assembly Narasingh Mishra, BJD MP Baijayant Panda and many leaders from across the country also wished him.
"I would like to express my deep gratitude to all who have wished me on my birthday. I will continue to work hard for the development and welfare of the people of our state,” Naveen said.
BJD student wing organised a blood donation camp at the party headquarters here. Similar camps have been planned at other places across Odisha, party sources said.