Prime Minister Narendra Modi and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee were among of the first few leaders to greet Gandhi on Twitter.

“Birthday greetings to Congress President Shri @RahulGandhi. I pray for his long and healthy life,” Modi posted on Twitter.

Birthday greetings to Congress President Shri @RahulGandhi. I pray for his long and healthy life.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 19, 2018

Gandhi, who turned 48 on 19 June, is Modi’s biggest competitor for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

Other top leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), too, greeted Gandhi on the occasion. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje were among those who took to Twitter to wish the Congress president.

Jammu-Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, whose party is the leader of the alliance government with the BJP in the state, wished Gandhi.

“Warm birthday wishes to @RahulGandhi. Wishing him good health, success & happiness,” Mufti wrote on Twitter.

Warm birthday wishes to @RahulGandhi. Wishing him good health, success & happiness.

— Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) June 19, 2018

A series of top Congress leaders prayed for Gandhi’s health and long life on his birthday. Among them was Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, who wrote, “Dear Rahul wish you a very Happy Birthday. May God bless you with a long, healthy, happy and prosperous life. And may you continue to lead @INCIndia through many more successes. My best wishes and blessings are with you today, and always! @RahulGandhi.”

Dear Rahul wish you a very Happy Birthday. May God bless you with a long, healthy, happy and prosperous life. And may you continue to lead @INCIndia through many more successes. My best wishes and blessings are with you today, and always! @RahulGandhi pic.twitter.com/DCqR0M00gj

— Capt.Amarinder Singh (@capt_amarinder) June 19, 2018

Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee chief Raj Babbar hailed Gandhi as a leader who the marginalised look up to.

“Wishing a very Happy Birthday to the charismatic and the everinspiring @RahulGandhi ji ! For millions of  countrymen,you are an image of strength & trust.The Marginalised look up to you with hope and so do the Young.Always be the way you are and Always be there to lead all of us!” he wrote on Twitter.

Wishing a very Happy Birthday to the charismatic and the everinspiring @RahulGandhi ji ! For millions of countrymen,you are an image of strength & trust.The Marginalised look up to you with hope and so do the Young.Always be the way you are and Always be there to lead all of us! pic.twitter.com/egZXgTVinA

— Raj Babbar (@RajBabbarMP) June 19, 2018

Newly-elected Cabinet minister in Karnataka and the architect of the Congress’ alliance with the Janata Dal (Secular), DK Shivakumar, wrote, “Warm Birthday Greetings to our leader Shri @RahulGandhi. May god bless you with good health & a long life for you to continue to serve our country & fight for people’s rights. #HappyBirthdayRahulGandhi.”

Warm Birthday Greetings to our leader Shri @RahulGandhi. May god bless you with good health & a long life for you to continue to serve our country & fight for people’s rights.#HappyBirthdayRahulGandhi pic.twitter.com/ziQTUOdssn

— DK Shivakumar (@DKShivakumar) June 19, 2018

Former J-K CM and National Conference leader Omar Abdullah tweeted: “Here’s wishing @RahulGandhi a very happy 48th birthday. May the almighty bless you with good health, much success & many more years in the service of the nation.”

Here’s wishing @RahulGandhi a very happy 48th birthday. May the almighty bless you with good health, much success & many more years in the service of the nation.

— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) June 19, 2018

Among those who greeted Gandhi were leaders who have been trying to form a Mahagathbandhan to take on the BJP in the upcoming elections with or without Congress’ support.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who has been at the forefront of the formation of the grand alliance, posted a short birthday message for Gandhi.

“Wishing you a very happy birthday, @RahulGandhi,” the Trinamool Congress chief wrote.

Wishing you a very happy birthday, @RahulGandhi

— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) June 19, 2018

A similar greeting came from Karnataka Chief Minister and JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy. “Warm wishes and Happy Birthday to @INCIndia President @RahulGandhi. #HappyBirthdayRahulGandhi,” wrote Kumaraswamy, who is 10 years senior to Gandhi.

Warm wishes and Happy Birthday to @INCIndia President @RahulGandhi .#HappyBirthdayRahulGandhi

— CM of Karnataka (@CMofKarnataka) June 19, 2018

“Happy birthday @RahulGandhi , President – Indian National Congress !        I wish you many more years of service to the nation. #HappyBirthdayRahulGandhi,” wrote DMK working president MK Stalin in his message for Gandhi.

Happy birthday @RahulGandhi , President – Indian National Congress ! I wish you many more years of service to the nation. #HappyBirthdayRahulGandhi

— M.K.Stalin (@mkstalin) June 19, 2018

RJD leader and former Bihar deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav wrote, “Wishing a very Happy Birthday to @RahulGandhi Ji. You have exhibited remarkable vision and exemplary leadership. On your birthday, I wish you peace, good health, success and happiness. Congratulations and #HappyBirthdayRahulGandhi.”

Wishing a very Happy Birthday to @RahulGandhi Ji. You have exhibited remarkable vision and exemplary leadership. On your birthday, I wish you peace, good health, success and happiness. Congratulations and #HappyBirthdayRahulGandhi

— Tejashwi Yadav (@yadavtejashwi) June 19, 2018

Yadav was seen hobnobbing with the top opposition leaders during Kumaraswamy’s swearing-in ceremony in Bengaluru on 23 May.

Gandhi is celebrating his first birthday after becoming Congress president. He was born on 19 June 1970 to former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and former Congress president Sonia Gandhi.

A Member of Parliament from Amethi in Uttar Pradesh, Gandhi officially began his political career in 2004 by participating in the Lok Sabha elections that year from the constituency – which he has since retained.