SUBRAT DAS
Bhubaneswar, Oct 16: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today turned 78. Though he did not celebrate his birthday today mourning his elder sister and eminent writer, film maker and journalist Gita Mehta's death last month, wishes poured in from across the country and political parties. The seventy eight year old socialite turned politician faces the challenge to lead his party to power in the upcoming election next year, If his party wins the 2024 polls to power, he will have the credit to be the longest-serving chief minister in India.
President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi wished Naveen on his birth day. "My greetings to Odisha CM Shri Naveen Patnaik Ji on his birth day. May he be blessed with a long and healthy life @Naveen _Odisha" , Modi posted on X.
Now, he is the second longest serving chief minister of any state in the country, after Pawan Chamling of Sikkim,
Chamling had ruled Sikkim from December 12, 1994 to May 27, 2019.
Earlier, on 23 July, 2023, Patnaik broke the record of Jyoti Basu, who ruled over the neighbouing state of West Bengal for 5 consecutive terms from 21 June, 1977 to November 5, 2000.
To ensure win of his party Biju Janata Dal (BJD) to power for the sixth consecutive term in the upcoming 2024 polls, Naveen has devised several strategies including revamping the party organizations in various districts and imparting training to party workers at the assembly level to propagate the programs and achievements of his government.
