PM Modi greets Nitish Kumar on his 66th birthday

Setting aside political differences, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday greeted JD(U) leader and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on his 66th birthday, wishing him a long and healthy life.

"Birthday wishes to Bihar CM @NitishKumar ji. May he be blessed with a long and healthy life," Modi tweeted.

In Patna, Kumar said he thanked the Prime Minister for his wishes.

Kumar, a three-time Chief Minister of Bihar, was born on this day in 1951 in Bakhtiarpur in Bihar. He has earlier served as a minister in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government.

Modi and Kumar do not share a good relationship.

Kumar, whose party was a constituent of NDA till 2013, had vehemently opposed projection of Modi as the BJP-led coalition's Prime Ministerial face and snapped the 17-year-old alliance in protest.

During the Bihar Assembly elections late last year, the two leaders had intensely targeted each other.

Kumar was also greeted by members of the state Assembly, which is in session.

Leader of Opposition Prem Kumar and senior BJP MLA Nand Kishore Yadav joined members of the treasury benches in wishing Kumar on his birthday.

Speaker Vijay Kumar Chaudhary also extended his greetings to the Chief Minister.