File pic: Narendra Modi, Prime Minister to be
Narendra Modi, who is shifting to New Delhi as India's next Prime Minister, today said "Aavjo (So Long) Gujarat" as he left the state he has ruled for 13 years.
"Today I am leaving for Delhi and as they say in Gujarat, I would like to say 'aavjo' to 6.25 crore people," Mr Modi said at the airport in Ahmedabad.
He is taking his cook, Badri, and his personal aides Dinesh Thakur and OP Singh, to his new home, the Prime Minister's residence at 7, Race Course Road in Delhi.
Badri has served as Mr Modi's cook and caretaker for over a decade.
Mr Modi's close aide Amit Shah, who has been credited with the BJP's spectacular haul of 71 seats in Uttar Pradesh, also accompanied him to Delhi.
Before leaving Ahmedabad, the PM-designate stopped to meet his mother Hiraba, 95, for the second time since his victory in the national election.
Mr Modi later tweeted that he was moved when he learnt that his personal staff in Gujarat had set up a shrine in his official car and prayed daily for his security.
The 63-year-old will be sworn in as Prime Minister on Monday.