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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday wished Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on the occasion of his 80th birthday, recognising the veteran leader’s enduring contributions to Kerala’s political landscape.
Taking to X, PM Modi wrote, “Birthday greetings to Kerala CM Shri Pinarayi Vijayan Ji. May he be blessed with a long and healthy life.”
Birthday greetings to Kerala CM Shri Pinarayi Vijayan Ji. May he be blessed with a long and healthy life. @pinarayivijayan
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 24, 2025
Although the party has not planned any official celebrations for the day, sources close to the party revealed that they expect to release a documentary about Vijayan in due course.
Pinarayi Vijayan was born on 24 May 1945 and began his political career early.
At the age of 25, he made history by becoming Kerala’s youngest legislator after winning the Kuthuparamba seat in the 1970 Assembly elections, a record that remains unbeaten.
Vijayan has been elected multiple times to the Kerala Legislative Assembly: he won from Kuthuparamba in 1970, 1977, and 1991; from Payyanur in 1996; and from Dharmadom in 2016 and 2021.
His consistent electoral success has marked him as a significant force in state politics.
Leadership & Milestones
Vijayan took charge as Kerala’s Chief Minister for the first time on 25 May 2016.
He won re-election and took oath for a second consecutive term on 20 May 2021, leading the Communist Party of India (Marxist)-led Left Democratic Front.
Notably, his tenure marked the first time in Kerala’s history that a Chief Minister retained office after completing a full five-year term, an unprecedented achievement in the state’s political context.
He served as the state secretary of the CPI-M from 1998 until he stepped down in 2015, during which he emerged as the party’s undisputed leader.
During his tenure, Vijayan actively manoeuvred within the party, working to diminish his political rival, VS Achuthanandan.
A political analyst said that party members expect Vijayan to win a third successive term, highlighting his sustained popularity and political acumen
On the evening prior to his birthday, Vijayan led a large-scale rally in Kerala’s capital, Thiruvananthapuram, marking the culmination of a statewide outreach programme.
During this campaign, he visited all 14 districts of Kerala, engaging directly with citizens to commemorate the fourth anniversary of his second term as Chief Minister.
PM Modi’s birthday wishes to Pinarayi Vijayan acknowledge not only his personal milestone but also his significant political legacy.
Vijayan’s decades-long journey, electoral successes, and pioneering leadership have left a distinct imprint on Kerala’s political landscape, while the state looks ahead to the continuation of his governance.
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