Modi to have lunch with Jaya today; chefs work overtime to rustle up spicy lunch
It is not yet confirmed who else would accompany Modi
Chennai: During his maiden visit to Chennai, after leading his BJP to a spectacular win and becoming the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, will meet his good friend and Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa at her Poes Garden residence for lunch on Friday.
Modi is slated to arrive at the AIADMK supremo’s residence around 12.30 pm and their meeting is likely to last about 40 minutes. He is scheduled to leave for Delhi by a special flight at 2.05 pm. The Friday tête-à-tête could revive ties between the two parties for the Assembly election next year.
Chefs work overtime to rustle up spicy lunch for PM
Cooks and south Indian chefs working at Raj Bhavan, Governor K. Rosaiah’s official residence and those at the Poes Garden, where Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa resides, are now working overtime preparing a spicy nutritious lunch for PM Narendra Modi.
According to official sources, the Prime Minister arrives at Chennai airport at 10.30 am and heads straight to Madras University to launch the India Handloom function. After completing the function by12.30 pm he is likely to visit Poes Garden to meet chief minister J. Jayalalithaa. Lunch will be prepared for Modi at Poes garden and Raj Bhavan.
The Prime Minister Office has suggested three cuisines – South Indian, North Indian thali and chappati with vegetarian curry, sources said. The CM is also likely to accompany PM Modi during his departure to Chennai international airport.
In 2008, when he was the CM of Gujarat, Modi had lunch with Ms Jayalalithaa who hosted a royal lunch on Pongal day. During that meeting, she offered a sumptuous spread of 45 mouth-watering delicacies to Modi.
Describing it as a “friendly meeting with extraordinary lunch,” then BJP spokesperson Ravishankar Prasad had said the meeting lasted two hours. BJP leaders from the state are unlikely to accompany Modi on his second visit to Jayalalithaa’s residence.
It is not yet confirmed who else would accompany Modi. "Maybe one or two national leaders of the party are likely to accompany him," said party sources. Both the stalwarts cherish a special rapport and AIADMK supremo had never hidden her friendship with Modi. When he was elevated as chairman of the BJP’s election campaign committee for 2014 Lok Sabha polls at the Goa conclave, Ms. Jayalalithaa had said: “but at a personal level, Modi is a very good friend of mine, I have high regards for him as an able administrator. My good wishes are always with him whether he wins election in Gujarat or achieves an elevation in his own party. I’m happy for him.”
The first congratulatory calls the AIADMK supremo received after her acquittal in the assets case was from the PM. While it may appear extraordinary for a Prime Minister to promptly greet a CM acquitted in a case, the call nevertheless wasn’t exactly a surprise given the context of their history — and the possibilities in the future.
On PM’s day out, plan your journey
A day after a dress rehearsal of PM visit to Chennai and DMDK’s human chain attempt, the two developments that triggered severe traffic snarls in south Chennai in the morning and central/ north Chennai in the evening, motorists are advised to avoid certain routes on Friday when Narendra Modi will be in city.
Traffic disruptions are likely from 10:00 am to 11:00 am when PM lands in Chennai and travels to Madras University. PM’s convoy is expected to take the route via Guindy, Raj Bhavan, Kotturpuram, RK Salai and Kamaraj Salai. Cascading effect of the halt of traffic could be felt in Saidapet, Nandanam, Adyar, Maylapore and even on Anna Salai.
From Madras University the PM is expected to travel to Poes Garden to meet Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa at around 1:00 pm for a 40-minute interaction. Motorists may avoid the stretch that time. Just after 1:30 pm, the PM would head to the airport from Poes Garden. Until 02:30 pm traffic disruption can be expected in areas like TTK Road, Nandanam, Saidapet, Guindy and GST Road.
Unlike MTC, Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) has not planned any change in schedule during the crucial minutes when the PM's motorcade will cross the elevated rail corridor at Alandur Station near Kathipara. Even the city police have issued a "travel advisory" to the public to avoid inconvenience during the hour.
Meanwhile, thousands of motorists were affected by the rehearsal programme of security arrangements organised by the city police at around 2 pm ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the city on Friday.
Kept waiting for around 45 minutes, traffic piled up on the Mount Poonamallee High Road, Jawaharlal Nehru Salai and GST Road with no explanation given to the waiting commuters by the cops on bandabust duty.