Punjab Chief Minister and Shirmonai Akali Dal supremo Parkash Singh Badal, Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray, his cousin and MNS chief Raj Thackeray, RPI leader Ramdas Athawale and Indian National Lok Dal leader Om Prakash Chautala were all present at Gujarat CM Narendra Modi’s swearing in ceremony.
There was, however, no representation from NDA ally Janata Dal (United). While Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar was expected to keep away from the function, surprisingly, even his deputy, BJP leader and Bihar deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi was not present at the swearing-in. Bihar BJP president C P Thakur, however, made up for it andattended the ceremony.
The opposition Congress in the State boycotted the function. Modi’s mother Heeraben, who was present at the venue, was seen flashing the victory sign.
Modi greeted all prominent leaders present at the ceremony before taking oath in Gujarati amid chants of “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” (Victory be to mother India).
A day after taking oath in Ahmedabad, Modi would be in the national capital on Thursday with a choc-a-bloc schedule.
Modi is scheduled to speak at the National Development Council meet, where he islikely to take on the UPA government on a host of development indicators.
Modi will also take time off to seek the blessings of BJP patriarch Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
He will also meet party workers who have tentatively drawn up a schedule “to felicitate him at the party headquarters at around 3.30 pm.”