Jai Ram Thakur turns 53
SHIMLA: Himachal Pradesh chief minister (CM) Jai Ram Thakur celebrated his 53rd birthday on Saturday, at a low key affair.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and governor Acharya Dev Vrat also felicitated him on the day. “On his birthday, I convey my greetings to Himachal Pradesh’s energetic chief minister Jai Ram Thakur. May almighty bless him with a long and healthy life,” Modi tweeted this morning. “Many thanks to honorable PM Modiji for his blessings on my birthday,” replied the CM.
Though there was no official function after a brief cake-cutting ceremony at his residence, Thakur inaugurated a blood donation camp on The Ridge organised by right wing student organisation Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP). Thakur later in the day attended a Van Mahautsav at Shimla’s Annandale locality.
“Philanthropy and environment protection are subjects that have always been very close to my heart. I feel everyone should dedicate their lives for the welfare of others,” he said. Notwithstanding the CM’S earlier appeal to the people to shed the traditional practice of bringing bouquets and garlands for felicitation, there was a large number of people who stood with garlands and bouquets for the CM. In the evening, Thakur participated in a cleanliness drive at Shimla’s Krishna Nagar locality.
Thakur, born on January 6, 1965, swore in as the 13th chief minister of the hill state on December 27, 2017. He was elected leader of the BJP legislative party on December 24, 2017 after former chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal’s unexpected defeat. Thakur is a five-time legislator. He won his first election in 1998 from Chachiot assembly segment that was renamed Seraj.