Ahmedabad, Nov 10 : Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Tuesday visited temples in Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar and met citizens, political leaders and senior police officers to exchange Gujarati New Year greetings on the first day of 'Vikram Samvat 2083', reiterating his appeal for a developed and drug-free state.
Patel began the day by offering prayers at Panchdev Temple in Gandhinagar, where he prayed for the happiness, prosperity and good health of citizens.
He subsequently visited Trimandir in Adalaj and offered prayers to Simandhar Swami and other deities, besides paying his respects to Pujya Niruma and Dada Bhagwan. Then, he met Governor Acharya Devvrat and extended his greetings.
In Ahmedabad, the Chief Minister visited Maa Bhadrakali Temple and prayed for the well-being of people and the overall development of Gujarat.
He later met prominent personalities, public representatives and citizens at the Annexe Circuit House in Shahibaug, where he exchanged New Year greetings.
State BJP President Jagdish Vishwakarma, Minister of State for Urban Development, Darshna Vaghela, MPs Dinesh Makwana and Hasmukh Patel, Ahmedabad Mayor Hitesh Barot, local MLAs, other political leaders and a large number of citizens were present during the interaction.
Patel also visited the Police Officers' Mess at Dafnala in Shahibaug, where he exchanged Diwali and New Year greetings with senior police officers and their family members.
Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi, State Police Chief G.S. Malik, Director General of Prisons K.L.N. Rao, Director General of Police Neerja Gotru and Ahmedabad Police Commissioner Anupam Singh Gahlaut were among those present.
Earlier, the Chief Minister had also exchanged New Year greetings with citizens, serving and retired senior secretaries, MLAs and office-bearers from Gandhinagar city and district at the Community Hall of the Ministers' Residential Complex in Gandhinagar.
Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Sanjeev Kumar, Energy Department Principal Secretary Ashwini Kumar and Roads and Buildings Secretary Patel welcomed him on the occasion.
In his New Year message, Patel urged citizens to work collectively towards building a 'Viksit Gujarat' and a 'Drug-Free Gujarat', contributing to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of a developed and drug-free India.
"I extend my heartfelt New Year wishes to everyone on the beginning of Vikram Samvat 2083. I have prayed to God for everyone's good health and for their lives to move forward with happiness, peace and prosperity. With the Prime Minister's vision of a developed India and a drug-free India, I hope we all work together towards a developed Gujarat and a drug-free Gujarat," he said.
In a message on social media platform X, Patel also extended greetings to Gujarati families living across India and abroad, expressing hope that the New Year would bring happiness, peace, prosperity, good health and new opportunities.
He called for strengthening social harmony, supporting local artisans and small industries, and promoting the 'Vocal for Local' initiative to ensure that prosperity reaches the last person in society. He also urged people to contribute towards the goal of an 'Atmanirbhar Bharat'.
The New Year celebrations come as the state government continues to emphasise development and its campaign against drug abuse, with Patel calling for public participation in both initiatives.
