PM Modi Thanks "Tulsi Bhai" For Re-election Wishes. Who Did He Refer To?

World Health Organisation (WHO) chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus congratulated PM Narendra Modi on being re-elected as the prime minister after the Lok Sabha polls. Responding to his message, the prime minister thanked his friend "Tulsi Bhai".

"Congratulations Prime Minister @narendramodi on your reelection. I look forward to continuing @WHO-#India close collaboration for #HealthForAll," the WHO chief said in a post on X.

"Thank you my friend Tulsi Bhai ! India's cooperation with WHO promotes our vision of ‘One Earth One Health'. The first WHO Global Centre for Traditional Medicine in India adds to our joint efforts towards #HealthForAll," the PM said, replying to the message.

The name "Tusli Bhai" comes from the PM's exchange with the WHO chief during a three-day Global AYUSH Investment and Innovation Summit in Gujarat in 2022.

During the summit, the WHO chief requested him to pick a Gujarati name for him as he had "become a pucca Gujarati.

"WHO Director-General Tedros is a good friend of mine. He always told me Indian teachers taught me and I am here because of them. Today he told me - 'I have become a pucca Gujarati. Have you decided a name for me?' So I will call him Tulsibhai as a Gujarati. Tulsi is a plant that modern generations are forgetting. Generations have worshipped Tulsi. You can also use the Tulsi plant in marriage. So now you are with us," the PM said.

PM Modi is set to take oath as the prime minister for his third term on Sunday. His Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) to victory with the alliance winning 293 seats in the Lok Sabha polls while the Opposition INDIA bloc won 232 seats.