Bhubaneswar: Leader of Opposition (LoP) in Odisha Assembly and BJD president Naveen Patnaik has recovered fully and is expected to return to Odisha within the next 2-3 days, sources said on Thursday.
Naveen had undergone a successful spine surgery for cervical arthritis at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital in Mumbai on June 22. He was shifted to a private room from the ICU after being kept under observation for two days and was discharged from the hospital on July 7.
The surgery was conducted by Dr S Rajasekaran, a globally recognised orthopaedic surgeon and chairman of Ganga Medical Center and Hospitals in Coimbatore, along with doctors of Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital.
In a post on X, the former CM had thanked the entire medical team of the hospital for the pre-surgery and post-surgery care. “I would like to thank the entire medical team of @KDAHMumbai and @GangaWebteam for providing excellent medical service and taking great care of me pre-surgery and post-surgery. Heartfelt thanks to everyone from #Odisha and outside for their wishes and prayers for my health. Jai Jagannath!”
Earlier, BJD leader Santrupt Mishra had said that he would continue to stay in Mumbai and return to Odisha after getting the go-ahead from the doctors.
Hundreds of supporters and well-wishers had gathered outside Naveen Niwas, his official residence, and later at Biju Patnaik International Airport here to see him off when the left for Mumbai on June 20. They also extended their heartfelt wishes for a successful surgery and a speedy recovery.
In his absence, the BJD’s 15-member committee led by vice-president Debi Mishra is looking after party affairs in the state.