At Rashtrapati Bhavan, PM Narendra Modi Signs Autographs for Public

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi radiated warmth and effusiveness of President Pranab Mukherjee's "At Home" party. He broke cordons and met people, chatted, greeted and gave autographs. But it didn't appear enough to thaw the big chill between him and Congress chief Sonia Gandhi.

At one point in the evening Mr Modi was seen sitting right opposite Mrs Gandhi in the sprawling Mughal Gardens, but the two didn't even exchange greetings. Instead, Mrs Gandhi focused her attention on senior BJP leader LK Advani, who was next to her in the VVIP enclosure. The two went on to have a relaxed chitchat. (Also read: PM's Choice of Turban: The Jodhpuri Safa)

The Prime Minister, too, seemed to have his hands full, exchanging pleasantries with the other guests who made a beeline for him with their compliments. (Read: PM Narendra Modi Greets Nation in 18 Languages on Independence Day)

Dressed in trademark white short-sleeved kurta-pyjama, coupled with a pista green jacket, Mr Modi, after greeting a few guests standing along the ribbon barricade, soon moved into the crowd. And then began the jostling, throwing his security men in a tizzy.

Invitation cards, envelopes, sheets from notepad and even paper napkins were thrust at him. And the Prime Minister, who had called himself "Pradhan Sevak" this morning, signed them all without a murmur. (Watch)

"He is a star," said Japanese envoy Takeshi Yagi, who had attended the function at the Red Fort earlier. Mr Modi is travelling to Japan at the end of this month for a bilateral summit with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. (Prime Minister Modi to Travel to Japan on August 31)

Responding to the compliments, Mr Modi underscored his morning's message - everyone has to work for development of the country and he required everyone's support to achieve his goal of taking the country forward. (Read: Come, Make In India. Manufacture Here: PM's Call to Investors)