Naveen Patnaik Celebrates 79th Birthday in Odisha

Naveen Patnaik, the president of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and former Chief Minister of Odisha, celebrated his 78th birthday amidst political turmoil within the party, which has faced recent desertions and criticism of its leadership. Despite these challenges, senior BJD leaders rallied to show their support for Patnaik, who has not celebrated his birthday in the past due to personal reasons. On this occasion, prominent figures, including the Odisha Governor and Union ministers, extended their wishes, praising his leadership and contributions to the state. The BJD organized various activities like blood donation camps to mark the event. Former party member Amar Prasad Satpathy expressed dissatisfaction with the party's direction, attributing recent electoral defeats to a close advisor of Patnaik, V K Pandian. As Patnaik remains an influential figure in Odisha politics, the party's internal struggles continue to be a focal point of discussion.