Leader of the Opposition in the Odisha Assembly and Biju Janata Dal (BJD) president, Naveen Patnaik, marked his 79th birthday on Thursday by joining the party’s annual ‘Jan Sampark Padyatra’ (public outreach march) and assuring the people that he would continue to serve the state and its people till the end of his life.
Making his first public appearance in nearly six months following extended hospital treatment in Mumbai and Bhubaneswar, and a recovery period of around a month in Delhi, the five-time former Chief Minister led the march at Ganga Nagar Palli under the Ekamra-Bhubaneswar assembly segment, walking a few steps as part of the BJD’s Jan Sampark padyatra. Patnaik returned to the state last week.
Addressing the gathering, Patnaik began the brief speech with ‘Jai Jagannath’ slogan and thanked all the people present at the venue for joining the BJD’s annual Yatra.
“BJD is yours party and a party of the people of Odisha,” Patnaik, who turned 79 on October 16, said.
— Biju Janata Dal (@bjd_odisha) October 16, 2025
The month-long ‘Jan Sampark Padyatra,’ which began on October 9, on the occasion of ‘Utkalmani’ Gopabandhu Das’s birth anniversary, is scheduled to run until November 9, during which the BJD aims to highlight the alleged failures of the ruling BJP government.
Following his participation in the yatra, Patnaik visited the ‘SOS’ Children’s village in the Khandagiri area. He spent time with the residents, distributed sweets to the children.
Patnaik He also cut the cake at the SOS village on the occasion of his 79th birthday. The SOS Children’s village in Bhubaneswar is run by a non-governmental organisation.
