PM Modi, leaders greet Kerala CM on 80th birthday

Thiruvananthapuram | Prime Minister Narendra Modi, state ministers and political leaders extended birthday wishes to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan who turned 80 on Saturday.

President Droupadi Murmu and Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar called him over phone and extended greetings, a CMO statement said.

According to party sources, there was no formal celebration as the veteran was engaged in his official duties.

Vijayan's birthday came a day after the celebrations marked the fourth anniversary of his second term as CM.

Vijayan, a member of the CPI(M) politburo, has been serving as Kerala CM since May 25, 2016.

People from various walks of life including political figures took to social media to wish Pinarayi Vijayan.

PM Modi took to 'X' to wish the CM a long and healthy life.

"Birthday greetings to Kerala CM Shri Pinarayi Vijayan Ji. May he be blessed with a long and healthy life," he said.

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari extended his greetings on his social media handle too.

"Extending my heartfelt birthday wishes to the Chief Minister of Kerala, Shri @pinarayivijayan. May this occasion bring joy and the year ahead be filled with health and prosperity," he said.

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and Governors and Chief Ministers of various states also wished Vijayan on his 80th birthday, the CMO said.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin posted a special birthday greeting to his Kerala counterpart in Malayalam and said his dedication to the progressive governance and their collective commitment to federalism and secularism, strengthens the relationship between the two states.

"Let our two states stand together celebrating our cultural ties and common interests," he said in the post wishing Vijayan a long life filled with health and happiness.

State Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar visited the Left veteran and the family at the Chief Minister's official residence here and conveyed his greetings.

The Governor wished the CM many more years of fruitful service to the people, he said in a 'X' post.

In the photos posted by Arlekar on his social media handle, it could be seen that Vijayan's wife, daughter and son-law (state public works minister P A Mohammed Riyas) were present during the occasion.

Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal, CPI (M) general secretary M A Baby, opposition leader in the state assembly V D Satheesan were also among those who conveyed their greetings.

Besides cabinet colleagues including P Rajeev, V Sivankutty, Riyas and so on, actors Kamal Haasan, Mohanlal and Mammootty also conveyed greetings to Vijayan on their social media handles.

In his FB page, Riyas described Vijayan as a symbol of truth, virtue and determination.

The senior Marxist leader had said that his birthday was on March 21, 1944 as per official records but his correct birth date was May 24, 1945.