Naveen turns 72; Modi prays for his long life

Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik turned 72 years on Monday. The BJD president who always keeps his birthday celebration a low-key affair celebrated the day in a different manner.

The celebration was marked with cake in presence of several party leaders, ministers and well wishers who thronged his residence (Naveen Niwas) in the morning with flower bouquet to wish him. Many were seen taking selfie with him.

Patnaik expressed his deep gratitude to all his well wishers and vowed to continue his service for people.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, MP Baijayant Panda, and West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee extended warm wishes to the bachelor CM through tweets.

Birthday wishes to Odisha CM Shri Naveen Patnaik. I pray that he leads a long life blessed with good health. @Naveen_Odisha

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 16, 2017

Warm birthday greetings to Chief Minister of Odisha Shri @Naveen_Odisha Babu. May god bless him with good health and long life.

— Dharmendra Pradhan (@dpradhanbjp) October 16, 2017

Wishing @Naveen_Odisha a very happy birthday. May Lord Jagannath bless you in serving Odisha & her people???

— Baijayant Jay Panda (@PandaJay) October 16, 2017

Happy birthday Naveen babu @Naveen_Odisha Wishing you good health and happiness

— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) October 16, 2017

The Biju Chhatra Janata Dal (BCJD), BJD's student's wing, has decided to celebrate its party chief’s birthday by organising blood donation camp at BJD headquarters.

Party leaders have also planned to hold similar camps at other places across the State, sources said.

Meanwhile, the State government has put up hoardings across the city praising Naveen as an abled administrator. "Katha nuhe, Kathina Parishrma (No speech, hard work only)" read the headline of the hoardings.

Naveen didn't celebrate his birthday last year to mourn sacrifices of martyrs who fought against terrorists. He had also requested his well-wishers not to  organise any programme.

In 2015, some students had sustained injuries in explosion of gas-filled balloon when they were coming in a rally to wish the CM.

In 2014, Naveen had declared not to celebrate the nbirthday for cyclone Hudhud and in 2013 for cyclone Phailin. In 2011, the CM had also decided to stay away from any celebration, expressing solidarity with people who suffered in flood then.