Former Odisha Chief Minister and BJD president Naveen Patnaik traveled to New Delhi on Friday to visit his elder brother, Prem Patnaik, who is recuperating from heart surgery at a private hospital in the capital. Prem Patnaik underwent the cardiac procedure on April 7.

Several notable BJD leaders, including Pranab Prakash Das, Ashok Panda, Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak, Sushant Rout, Sanjay Das Burma, Saluka Pradhan, and Tukuni Sahu, were present at the airport to bid him farewell. Naveen, who also serves as the Leader of Opposition in the Odisha Assembly, is anticipated to spend several days in Delhi with family to provide personal support during this period.

Senior BJD leader Debi Mishra noted that the trip is strictly personal and family-focused, stating, “Naveen Babu has gone to Delhi to meet his elder brother Prem Patnaik, who is hospitalized after falling ill. This is his personal visit.” Party sources affirmed that there are no immediate political commitments planned during this brief visit, allowing him to concentrate on his brother’s recovery.

Prem Patnaik, a businessman based in Delhi, had previously visited Naveen during his spine surgery in Mumbai in 2025. Their elder sister, Gita Mehta, a writer, passed away in 2023.