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Kalyan, who dons simple cotton clothes and leads a pious life as part of his Deeksha (spiritual practice), was quick to assure the prime minister that he wasn’t going anywhere just yet
PM Narendra Modi cracks a joke with Andhra Pradesh’s deputy chief minister Pawan Kalyan. (Screengrab)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was all smiles at Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta’s swearing-in on Thursday as he greeted all NDA partners attending the event. The prime minister met Maharashtra’s deputy chief minister and Shiv Sena supremo Eknath Shinde and had a warm exchange with Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu. However, it was PM Modi’s banter with Andhra’s deputy chief minister Pawan Kalyan that caught the media’s eye.
Asked about their chat, the actor-politician said: “The prime minister always cracks jokes with me. Today, he looked at my attire and asked me if I was leaving everything and going to the Himalayas.”
Kalyan, who dons simple cotton clothes and leads a pious life as part of his Deeksha (spiritual practice), was quick to assure the prime minister that he wasn’t going anywhere just yet. “There’s still work to be done,” he quipped, adding that the Himalayas can wait.
Lately, Kalyan has been on a pilgrimage, visiting temples across South India and even seeking blessings at the Maha Kumbh.
DELHI GETS NEW CM
BJP’s debutant legislator Rekha Gupta was sworn in as the Delhi chief minister on Thursday in a grand show of strength that marks the party’s return to power in the city after more than 26 years.
Along with Gupta, Parvesh Verma, Ashish Sood, Manjinder Singh Sirsa, Kapil Mishra, Ravinder Indraj Singh, Kapil Mishra and Pankaj Singh were also administered the oath of office by Lt Governor VK Saxena.
The ceremony at the historic Ramlila Ground was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the top BJP brass and NDA leaders. Gupta is Delhi’s fourth woman chief minister. The 50-year-old MLA from Shalimar Bagh is also the only woman in the NDA team of chief ministers.
