Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi kicks of his three-day fast on Friday with support also coming from his counterparts from Tamil Nadu and Punjab — Ms Jayalalithaa and Mr Prakash Singh Badal — and Shiv Sena leaders.
Mr Badal, leader of the BJP’s key ally Shiromani Akali Dal, will be personally present on the first day of the fast while the AIADMK supremo is despatching two emissaries M. Thambidurai and V. Maitreyan.
The BJP leadership, including L.K. Advani will be in strength at the fast venue at the state-of-the-art Convention Centre of Gujarat University here, as hectic last minute preparations were underway on Friday.
However, it is not clear whether the other NDA constituents, especially the JD(U), would be following Mr Badal’s example.
After the Supreme Court verdict in a Gujarat riots case on Monday that gave him some relief, Mr Modi announced a fast for three days calling it a “Sadbhavna Mission” for peace, unity and harmony in the state. State BJP spokesperson Vijay Rupani told reporters that Arun Jaitley, Sushma Swaraj and Rajnath Singh will be also present. BJP president Nitin Gadkari will not be present as he is recuperating after undergoing a gastric by-pass surgery.
Ravi Shankar Prasad, Shahnawaz Hussain, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, Hema Malini and Smriti Irani will be among other party leaders who will attend the fast.
“Besides, NDA allies like Akali Dal’s Punjab’s chief minister Prakash Singh Badal and Shiv Sena leaders will also come,” he said, adding, “Tamil Nadu chief minister J. Jayalalithaji has supported Modi’s fast and will be sending two emissaries M. Thambidurai and V. Maitreyan.”
Mr Modi and Ms Jayalalithaa share good vibes and the BJP leader had attended the swearing-in ceremony of the AIADMK leader when she took over as chief minister in May this year. Official sources said in Chandigarh Mr Badal will visit Ahmedabad Saturday. — PTI