Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who turns 68 on August 12, has appealed to all his admirers and party workers not to celebrate his birthday in view of the spate of farmer suicides in the State.

In a statement, Siddaramaiah said the series of farmer suicides had deeply distressed and pained him. He stated that banners, flexes or cutouts should not be erected on his birthday.

There should be no celebration at all, he stated. He has urged his supporters to indefinitely postpone any birthday bash planned for him. State Congress president G Parameshwara turned 64 on Thursday and the celebrations were kept low key.