Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday evening met behind closed doors with the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) top leaders in the state capital. Earlier in the day, Modi addressed rallies in Gujarat as part of the BJP's campaign for the Assembly elections taking place next month.
The meeting was held at the BJP's state headquarters in Gandhinagar, 'Shree Kamalam.' The prime minister's visit to the party headquarters and meeting was not on his official itinerary.
After a day of campaigning in the Saurashtra area, which will vote in the first round on December 1, Modi arrived at the party office at 6.30 p.m.
"At the party's state headquarters, the PM held a meeting with key party leaders, including Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, state BJP president C R Paatil and Minister of State for Home Harsh Sanghavi," party leader Anil Patel told reporters, PTI reported.
C R Paatil, State BJP President, posted on Twitter, "Shri Narendra Modi Sahib, our country's successful and honourable Prime Minister met the dedicated workers of Bharatiya Janata Party today at Pradesh Karyalaya 'Shri Kamalam'. Had the good fortune of getting the guidance of Prime Minister Shri," he tweeted in Gujarati.
Before leaving the office, Modi sat on a bench on the premises and had an informal conversation with the workers of 'Shree Kamalam' and several of his old colleagues, according to Patel.
"The PM talked with all of them in a completely informal manner and inquired about the well-being of their families too. He also asked the staffers and workers to sit with him. Gujarat CM, Paatil, and Sanghavi were also part of this informal meeting," Patel was quoted by PTI.
Modi, who landed in Gujarat on Saturday for the party's election campaign, addressed four rallies in the crucial Saurashtra area on Sunday, in Veraval, Dhoraji, Amreli, and Botad.
The BJP-ruled Gujarat will vote in two phases on December 1 and 5. The counting of votes will be taken up on December 8.
(With Inputs From PTI)