UP chief minister Akhilesh Yadav, on Sunday, formally entered his official residence at 5, Kalidas Marg after performing a grah pravesh puja with family members. The on-going Navratri festival is considered auspicious for starting a new task.
The gates of the sprawling bungalow were thrown open for party workers who thronged the place to wish the chief minister.
Thousands of party workers, donning red caps, personally congratulated the chief minister on his new responsibility. Members of the chief minister’s core team that had helped him during the campaign were also present.
The chief minister personally interacted with party workers, thanking them for their support and urging them to maintain discipline and help him in addressing the aspirations and hopes of the people.
A grand lunch had also been arranged for the guests and for those fasting during Navratri, there was a special section serving non-cereal food.
The Kranti Rath on which Mr Yadav had travelled through more than 300 constituencies during the elections also stood on the premises and hundreds of party workers posed for photographs in front of the Kranti Rath. He also posed for photographs with his security staff.
The chief minister accepted gifts that party workers had brought for him, from miniature cycles to fresh home-made curd.