Though Prime Minister Narendra Modi received thousands of birthday greetings on Wednesday from all over the world, the birthday wish sent by Konijeti Rosaiah, the Governor of Tamil Nadu stood out for its unique wording.
“You are our nation’s pride, a guiding spirit and a beacon of light. Your people-oriented development projects, dedication and commitment to serve the nation have made India all set to become a global leader. I wish you a long, happy and healthy life in your distinguished service to the people and the nation,” Rosaiah, a Congressman, said in his greetings to PM Modi on his 64th birthday on Wednesday. This could be the only greeting of its kind to be sent by a Congressman to a political rival.
The birthday wish would have gone unnoticed had it been from the fans of the Prime Minister for which there is no dearth. But Rosaiah is a Congress man. He was the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh from 2009 to 2010 and was replaced by Kiran Kumar Reddy to quell the flag of revolt raised by Jagan Mohan Reddy, the sulking son of Samuel Rajasekhara Reddy, the former Chief Minister.
Rosaiah (81) had served as Finance Minister of Andhra Pradesh for 16 years and that too under four different Congress Chief Ministers. He has an excellent working relationship with Jayalalithaa, Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, which is quite strange compared to other Governors appointed by the Congress-led UPA. Most of such Governors use the Raj Bhavans as yet another branch of the Pradesh Congress Committee office.