Birthday wishes pour in as Naveen turns 74

Birthday greetings poured in for Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Union ministers, his party colleagues and opposition leaders as he turns 74 on Wednesday.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to Twitter to congratulate him on the special day.
"Greetings to Odisha's CM Shri Naveen Patnaik Ji on his birthday. May he be blessed with a long and healthy life," Modi tweeted.

Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) President Niranjan Patnaik also wished Patnaik.

Renowned sand artist Sudarshan Patnaik created a sand art at Puri beach wishing the Chief Minister on the occasion. "Happy Birthday Naveen Patnaik Ji, the Architect of Modern Odisha," mentioned Sudarsan on the sand art.

Earlier, the Chief Minister informed that he would not celebrate his birthday in view of cyclone Fani that devastated several parts of the state in May this year.

He urged the well-wishers and party workers to visit orphanages and schools meant for disabled children instead of wishing him at Naveen Niwas.

Naveen Patnaik stormed to power for the fifth consecutive term this year. He has achieved the success that few leaders in the country can match. He has been in power in the state since 2000.IANS