Ahmedabad, Monday: Former Deputy Prime L.K. Advani, Bharatiya Janata Party President Rajnath Singh and Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, among other leaders, attended BJP’s women leader and ex-MP Bhavnaben Chikhaliya’s condolence meeting held at Swaminarayan Akhshar Purushottam Sanstha Hall at Junagadh today.
Paying his condolences, Mr. Advani said that Bhavnaben’s demise is not only a big loss to the party but also to the nation’s politics. Mr. Advani recalled whenever he used to visit Somnath, she used to join him at Keshod. Presence of a large number of mourners at the condolence meeting speaks about her commanding people’s affection, he said.
Mr. Singh remembered Bhavnaben’s active participation on various issues in the Parliament. While there is an urgent need to have intellectual women leaders in today’s politics and Bhavnaben has passed away in such a challenging time. The loss is all the more left in case of early deaths like hers, he said.Mr. Modi said that Bhavnaben had an uncanny capacity of assimilating and disseminating BJP’s work culture. She had unending energy for the cause of the people. He had lost in her death a powerful party colleague and a member of family.
They all prayed for the peace of the soul and conveyed their heartfelt condolence to the bereaved family.Others present during the condolence included Revenue Minister Anandiben Patel, Minister of State for Education Vasuben Trivedi, Minister of State for Education Govind Patel, BJP Gujarat President R.C. Faldu, BJP leader Parsottam Rupala, MLAs Mahendra Mashru and Bhanuben Babaria, Rajya Sabha Member Manubhai Mandviya, party leaders Hemaben Acharya, Naarsiinh Padhiar, BJP District President Kanubhai Bhalala, ex-Minister Mohan Patel, Dilip Sanghani, Devang Solanki, ex-Parliamentary Secretary L.T. Rajani, Rajubhai Dhru, Bharati Bapu, Parab’s Karsandas Bapu and Sant Indra Bharati.