Gujarat celebrates Narendra Modi's anointment as BJP's PM candidate

AHMEDABAD: The announcement of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi as BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate was celebrated across the state by party workers and others who set off fire crackers and distributed sweets.

Hiraba, Modi's mother, was offered sweets by Pankaj Modi, the Chief Minister's younger brother with whom she is currently living at his house in sector-22 in Gandhinagar.

Hundreds of BJP workers started burst fire-crackers outside the BJP headquarters here as state BJP chief R C Faldu informed them about the development. It was accompanied by drum-beating and slogan-shouting.

Workers gathered in large number at BJP offices across the state in anticipation of the announcement.

Large-scale celebrations were witnessed in Vadodara, Surat, Valsad and Rajkot, among other places.

Modi's fans and even ordinary people were seen distributing sweets and congratulating each other.

"Today, while the country, under UPA government, is pushed into the darkness, while people are aspiring for an able and powerful leader, the announcement of Narendra Modi as PM candidate has come at a very crucial and right moment," said Faldu, addressing workers outside BJP office at Khanpur here.

"I, on behalf of whole of Gujarat and BJP, welcome this announcement and congratulate the Parliamentary Board," he added.