Overview

• Patnaik’s special flight touched down at around 2 pm on July 12 after a 21-day recovery period in Mumbai following his surgery.
• He underwent cervical spine surgery for arthritis on June 22 at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, with Dr. S. Rajasekaran performing the procedure.
• After being shifted from the ICU to a private room and discharged on July 7, Patnaik stayed under observation before returning home.
• Supporters lining the route to his residence waved BJD flags and chanted “Jai Jagannath” and “Naveen Patnaik zindabad” in a rousing reception.
• A 15-member committee led by vice-president Debi Prasad Mishra managed party affairs in his absence and has now restored full operational control to Patnaik, who will gradually resume political activities.