Mumbai, Mar 18 (IANS): There were no loud celebrations, crowds, garlands or parties to mark the birthday of Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan here Sunday as he dedicated the day to the cause of drought-hit people in the state.

Congress MP from Konkan Nilesh Rane, who shares his birthday (March 17) with Chavan, marked the day by getting distributed water and fodder among the needy in Jalna district.

In view of the drought in around 12,000 villages, Chavan requested partymen not to spend anything for celebrating his birthday.

"Instead, the money spent on flowers, garlands, posters and banners can be donated to the Chief Minister's Relief Fund which will go towards providing drought relief," an aide of Chavan told IANS.

Supporters of Rane, son of Industry Minister Narayan Rane, spent the day in Jalna district to celebrate his birthday.

"We supplied around 75 water tankers and several tonnes of fodder to the 20 worst-hit villages in Jalna district, covering 50,000 people," an aide of Rane told IANS.

Rane has decided to adopt two villages - Chikangaon and Khedegaon - with a total population of around 3,500, he said.

The water availability in these villages is so bad that the government has been supplying tanker water for the past 18 months, he said.