Among the world leaders and VVIPs that have been invited to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister designate Narendra Modi, will be a humble tea vendor from Vadodara.
Tea vendor Kiran Mahida, who was one of the proposers of Narendra Modi’s candidature for the lok Sabha in Vadodara, has been invited to attend the glittering ceremony at President’s House on Monday evening.
Apart from Mahida, others from Modi’s home State Gujarat have not been forgotten either. While the national Capital is witnessing a fierce clamour to grab precious invitations to witness the historic ceremony, it has been learnt that 40 invitations have been sent to Gujarat.
In addition to Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel, six Cabinet Ministers — Nitin Patel, Ramanlal Vora, Bhupendrasinh Chudasama, Saurabh Patel, Ganpat Vasava and Babu Bokhiria are on the guest list. Gujarat Assembly Speaker Vajubhai Vala has also been invited for the high-profile function.
President of Gujarat BJP RC Faldu, five general secretaries —Vijay Rupani, Bhikhu Dalsania, Shankar Chaudhary, Bharatsinh Parmar and Bharat Pandya are set to fly to Delhi on Monday morning to attend the function. Gujarat BJP patriarch and former Chief Minister Keshubhai Patel, BJP in-charge for Gujarat Om Mathur, senior party leaders Parshottam Rupala, IK Jadeja, Parindu Bhagat and Kaushik Patel are also on the list. Sources close to Modi said that at least three RSS leaders from Gujarat have also been invited.
Members of Modi’s family, including his mother Hira Ba, will witness the proudest moment of their lives on television. A source very close to the family confirmed that they would watch the event on television.
Four proposers of Narendra Modi for the Vadodara lok Sabha constituency - tea vendor Mahida, Bhupendra Patel, Neelaben Desai and Shubhanginiraje Gaekwad will also become part of the high-profile gathering of 3,000 people at the President’s House.
Interestingly, Mahida, whom Modi had hugged at the time of his nomination, was intimated well-in-advance. “I consider myself lucky to be part of the historic moment. He (Modi) made me famous by selecting me as his proposer, despite my humble background,” said Mahida, while talking to The Pioneer.
Bhupendra Patel is an old party hand in Vadodara since Jan Sangh era and also became first BJP president of the city in 1980. Neelaben is the widow of Markand Desai, first BJP MlA from Vadodara. Gaekwad is Rajmata of the Vadodara royal family.Another 15-20 guests are also invited from the State, said a source from various organizations.