Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (ANK)
Mangaluru, Dec 19: Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived to a grand welcome at Mangaluru International Airport in the early hours of Tuesday December 19.
Though PM Modi was supposed to arrive by a special flight at 10.30 pm, it was past midnight when he finally landed here.
But the delay did not dampen spirits of the huge crowd of BJP leaders, members and supporters who gathered at the airport to welcome the PM.
The joy was double for the BJP supporters as, apart from the PM's arrival, they also celebrated the party's wins in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh.
Nasik bands, drums and chende were also brought to the airport to celebrate the twin victories. The jubilant supporters waved party flags and chanted slogans.
The venue was jampacked and the entrance to the airport was chocked with traffic.
The PM was welcomed by the district BJP leaders BJP leaders MP Nalin Kumar Kateel, Vedavyas Kamath and others amid loud cheers from the crowd. Much to the delight of the supporters, he came near them and waved in acknowledgement, before leaving the airport.
Union minister of state for shipping Pon Radhakrishnan, Karnataka DG-IGP Neelamani Raju, Nalin Kumar Kateel, MLA S Angara, deputy commissioner Sasikanth Senthil, ZP president Meenakshi Shantigodu, vice-president Kasturi Panja and other leaders received the PM.
Tight security was arranged at the airport right from the entrance. ADGP Kamal Pant and other police officers were present.
Modi will stay at Circuit House and on December 19, travel to Lakshadweep by helicopter.
Prime Minster leaves for Lakshadweep
PM Modi who arrived in the early of Tuesday, left the city by an IAF helicopter in the morning from the international airport here. He was seen off by MP Nalin Kumar Kateel, district BJP president Sanjeeva Matandoor, former MLC Monappa Bhandary, former MLA Yogish Bhat and other BJP leaders.
This was PM Modi's second visit to Dakshina Kannada in a span of one month. He had visited Dharmasthala in Beltangady on October 29, and according to sources, is likely to visit the coastal region again this month end.