Lucknow, July 1 (IANS): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday wished Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on his 43rd birthday.

Modi took to micro-blogging website Twitter to wish the Uttar Pradesh chief minister.

Akhilesh Yadav began his day by meeting his family members and close aides.

He later went ahead with his official engagements as his supporters and Samajwadi Party (SP) workers celebrated his birthday cutting cakes, organising blood donation camps and distributing fruits to the patients at various hospitals.

Local newspapers were on Wednesday painted in party colours as some supporters gave full page advertisements to wish their leader a healthy and long life.

Akhilesh Yadav planted a sapling on his birthday at the Kukrail picnic spot in Lucknow and kick-started the week-long 'van saptah' (forest week).

Exhorting people to plant more trees, the chief minister said his government has set a target of planting five crore saplings this year, and added that the Samajwadi ethos has always promoted protection of environment.