Biju Janata Dal (BJD) president and Odisha’s Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik was discharged from Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital in Mumbai on Monday, following a successful spine surgery for cervical arthritis on June 22, a party leader confirmed. The 78-year-old former Chief Minister’s health has shown significant improvement, according to hospital sources.

BJD leader Santrupt Mishra stated, “The LoP was discharged today and will remain in Mumbai for now, with doctors to advise on his return to Odisha.” In Patnaik’s absence, a 15-member BJD committee, led by vice-president Debi Mishra, is managing party affairs.

The surgery drew widespread support, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge among those wishing Patnaik a speedy recovery. BJD leaders and workers across Odisha held prayers at temples for his successful procedure. Posts on X from supporters, including @Naveen_Odisha and @bjd_odisha, celebrated his recovery, hailing his resilience and leadership.

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Patnaik, who served as Odisha’s Chief Minister for five terms until the BJD’s defeat in the 2024 assembly elections, remains a pivotal figure in the state’s politics, with the BJD securing 51 seats in the 147-member assembly.

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