Naveen Turns 79: Today marks the birthday of one of India’s most respected political leaders and the former Chief Minister of Odisha, Naveen Patnaik. Born on October 16, 1946, Naveen Patnaik turns 79 today.
On this special occasion, greetings and wishes have been pouring in from people across various walks of life. Celebrated sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik extended his wishes to the veteran leader through his art, creating a beautiful sand sculpture of Naveen Patnaik on Puri Beach. The artwork features a pink sand cake beside the sculpture, inscribed with the message “Happy Birthday”, along with the text “79th Birthday of Naveen Patnaik” written below. The artwork has attracted significant attention from visitors and tourists.
Naveen Patnaik is a prominent name in Indian political history. After the demise of his father, Biju Patnaik, in 1997, Naveen entered politics. During his father’s tenure as Chief Minister, Naveen had no involvement in political affairs. Following Biju Patnaik’s passing, Naveen contested the Lok Sabha elections, won, and later served as a Union Minister at the Centre.
Subsequently, with the formation of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), he became the party’s president—a position he continues to hold. Over nearly 29 years in politics, Naveen Patnaik has served as Chief Minister of Odisha for more than 24 consecutive years, setting a record for the longest tenure in the state’s history.
