Naveen Patnaik Returns To Bhubaneswar After Successful Surgery In Mumbai

Bhubaneswar: Former Odisha Chief Minister and Biju Janata Dal (BJD) president Naveen Patnaik received a hero’s welcome in Bhubaneswar on Saturday, following a successful spine surgery and a three-week recovery in Mumbai.

Patnaik’s special flight landed at Biju Patnaik International Airport around 2.30 pm, where hundreds of enthusiastic supporters and party workers had gathered to greet him. Waving party flags and chanting “Jai Jagannath,” the crowd lined the roads leading out of the airport in a vibrant display of loyalty and affection for the veteran leader.

The BJD organised a formal reception to mark his return, underlining the deep emotional connect Patnaik continues to share with the people of Odisha. Senior party leaders, including BJD vice president Debi Prasad Mishra, organisational secretary Pranab Prakash Das, several MLAs, MPs, and Bhubaneswar Mayor Sulochana Das were present to welcome him. They hailed Patnaik’s resilience and unwavering leadership.

The five-time Chief Minister had undergone surgery for cervical arthritis on June 22 at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital in Mumbai. The procedure was conducted by renowned spine specialist Dr. S. Rajasekaran, chairman of Ganga Medical Centre and Hospitals, Coimbatore. After being discharged on July 7, Patnaik remained under medical supervision in Mumbai before returning home.

Currently serving as the Leader of the Opposition in the Odisha Assembly, Patnaik is expected to gradually resume his political engagements in the coming days.

His return signals more than just a recovery from surgery — it marks a moment of political resonance, reaffirming his enduring stature and influence in Odisha’s evolving political landscape.