Naveen Patnaik Stable, Set for Hospital Discharge Today
BJD leader recovers from dehydration, prayers pour in.
Biju Janata Dal (BJD) president and former Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is stable and expected to be discharged on Monday from SUM Ultimate Medicare in Bhubaneswar, where he was admitted for dehydration on Sunday, a hospital source confirmed. The 78-year-old Leader of Opposition in the Odisha Assembly has shown significant improvement, with the hospital reporting at 11 AM that he is responding well to treatment and feeling fine.
Patnaik experienced uneasiness on Saturday night, prompting a visit from doctors to his residence, Naveen Niwas, according to BJD leaders. He was subsequently admitted for medical attention due to dehydration. A hospital bulletin on Sunday noted steady progress in his condition, and BJD vice president Sanjay Das Burma affirmed, “Naveen babu is now stable and has recovered from the dehydration issue.”
On Monday morning, BJD leaders and supporters gathered at Shree Lingaraj Temple in Bhubaneswar, offering ‘diya’ (lamps) and prayers for Patnaik’s swift recovery. The outpouring of support extended beyond party lines, with Odisha Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, and Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan publicly wishing the veteran leader a speedy recovery.
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Patnaik, who served as Odisha’s Chief Minister for over two decades before the BJD’s defeat in the 2024 elections, remains a towering figure in the state’s politics. His health scare has drawn widespread attention, with supporters and political leaders alike expressing relief at his improving condition. The hospital source indicated that Patnaik’s discharge is imminent, pending final medical evaluations, allowing him to resume his duties as the opposition leader.
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