Modi on 'mission' visit to TN tomorrow

Chennai, Jan 13 (UNI) Amid protests from Muslim organisations and some political parties, including the CPI(M) and VCK, Senior BJP leader and Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi will arrive here on a day's ''politically significant'' visit to Tamil Nadu tomorrow.

This would be Mr Modi's first visit to the State after he helped the BJP retain power in the recent Assembly polls in Gujarat and after becoming Chief Minister for the third time.

A thick security cover has been put in place in Chennai city in view of his visit.

Soon after his arrival at the airport by a special aircraft at 0930 hrs, where he would be received by BJP State President L Ganesan and other members, Mr Modi is expected to attend a private function at Taj Coromandel organised by a Gujarati Association.

He would then interact with BJP office bearers and members of various district units at party headquarters ''Kamalalayam'', from where he would proceed to the Poes Garden residence for a luncheon meeting with AIADMK supremo J Jayalalithaa.

The meeting between the two leaders, in which BJP spokesperson and Central Observer for Tamil Nadu Ravi Shankar Prasad, is also scheduled to participate, assumes significance in the political circles in the context of AIADMK's lenience towards the saffron party.

Political analysts say that the meeting was expected to pave way for revival of the electoral ties between the two parties.

Mr Modi would round off his visit by attending a function at Kamaraj Arangam organised by political analyst and 'Thuglaq' Tamil Political weekly Editor Cho Ramasamy to commemorate the 37th anniversary of the magazine.

The BJP's Hero in Gujarat, where he singlehandedly won the elections against all odds last month, is expected to leave for Ahmedabad around 2155 hrs in the evening.

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