Arjun Ram Meghwal, a possible new face in the PM's council of ministers, riding into the presidential palace grounds on his cycle.
Highlights
- Arjun Ram Meghwal rode his bicycle into Rashtrapati Bhavan this morning
- Mansukhbhai Mandavia and Anil Dave also did the same
- All 3 regularly cycle to parliament instead of using private cars
New minister Arjun Ram Meghwal took a bicycle to the Rashtrapati Bhavan on Tuesday for the oath ceremony that marked Prime Minister Narendra Modi's second cabinet expansion.
Mr Meghwal, chased by a small crowd including security men, cycled slowly down the high security avenue leading to the presidential palace.
Can he continue his cycle rides after becoming minister? The lawmaker told reporters: "Right now I am an MP. I had decided that when I become minister, I will do whatever party, government decide."
Another minister-to-be, Mansukhbhai Mandavia, also opted to take his cycle to the oath ceremony.
Mansukhbhai Mandavia leaving on cycle for the Rashtrapati Bhawan.
"We have been using the cycle for the past three years," Mr Mandavia said before setting off. He is a BJP member of the Rajya Sabha from Gujarat.
Mr Meghwal, the BJP parliamentarian from Bikaner in Rajasthan, was the first MP to use a cycle to get to work when Delhi implemented its famous odd-even traffic scheme, which banned private cars on alternate days to combat pollution. When he was appointed as his party's chief whip in the Lok Sabha, he became responsible for ensuring the attendance of the BJP lawmakers in the house.
Anil Dave, a Rajya Sabha MP from Madhya Pradesh, is the third cyclist MP. He has actively campaigned for cleaning and saving the Narmada river.
All three politicians have earned a reputation as eco-friendly, choosing to cycle to Parliament instead of using private cars.