Gandhinagar/New Delhi, July 15 (IANS) Birthday greetings for Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel continued to pour in on Wednesday, with several Union ministers praising his leadership and wishing him good health and a long life.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said Patel had been working to advance Gujarat’s growth and strengthen governance.

In a post on social media platform X, Singh wrote: “Warm birthday greetings to Chief Minister of Gujarat, Bhupendra Patel. Guided by a progressive vision, he has been working tirelessly to accelerate Gujarat’s growth and strengthen the spirit of good governance. Wishing him good health and many more years of dedicated service to the people.”

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said Gujarat was “steadily progressing on the path of development while setting new benchmarks in public welfare” under Patel’s leadership.

He prayed for the Chief Minister’s “good health and long life”.

Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said Gujarat was setting “new benchmarks in development, good governance and prosperity” under Patel’s “compassionate leadership” and wished him continued well-being and a long life.

Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari also extended birthday greetings, praying for Patel’s “good health, long life and a blessed life”.

Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan wished Patel good health and said, “May Gujarat continue to move forward on the path of development and progress under your able leadership, and may the happiness and well-being of all its citizens continue to grow.”

Union Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Patil described Patel as a leader giving “new momentum to Gujarat’s progress through simplicity, sensitivity and a development-oriented vision”.

“I sincerely pray that, with the blessings of Maa Amba, you continue to be blessed with good health, a long life and unwavering energy to serve Gujarat,” he said.

Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav, also conveyed birthday greetings and prayed for Patel’s good health and long life.

Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel, H.D. Kumaraswamy, said: “Patel’s leadership, commitment to public service and efforts towards inclusive development had strengthened Gujarat’s growth journey.”

He wished the Chief Minister good health, happiness and many more years of public service.

Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Manohar Lal Khattar offered his best wishes and prayed to Lord Somnath Mahadev for Patel’s good health and a long, successful and illustrious life.

The messages followed birthday greetings earlier in the day from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah.

Patel responded by reaffirming Gujarat’s commitment to contributing to the national vision of “Viksit Bharat @ 2047” under the Prime Minister’s leadership.

The Chief Minister also marked his birthday by offering prayers at the Dada Bhagwan Trimandir in Adalaj and virtually participating in a Mahapuja and Rudrabhishek at the Somnath Temple, where he prayed for the health, happiness and prosperity of the people of Gujarat and the state’s continued holistic development.

Patel, who turned 64 on Wednesday, has served as Gujarat’s Chief Minister since September 2021 and began his second consecutive term following the Bharatiya Janata Party’s victory in the 2022 Gujarat Assembly elections.

Before becoming Chief Minister, he held several positions in Ahmedabad’s municipal administration and has represented the Ghatlodia Assembly constituency since 2017.

–IANS

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