BJP's National Executive Meet in Odisha, Day 2: PM Modi visits Lingaraj Temple

Bhubaneswar: BJP's National Executive Meet is going on in Odisha. PM Narendra Modi on Sunday visited Lingaraj Temple, Bhubaneswar. He was greeted by public with 'Modi, Modi' chants.

Prayed at the Lingaraj Temple in Bhubaneswar. The magnificence of the Temple and Temple Complex leaves a lasting impression on the mind. pic.twitter.com/ofoXs8rltr

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 16, 2017

Some more pictures from the Lingaraj Temple in Bhubaneswar. pic.twitter.com/XT50cFSjQz — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 16, 2017

With people after praying at the Lingaraj Temple. pic.twitter.com/DaHm7yXyif — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 16, 2017

PM Shri @narendramodi at Lingaraj Temple, Bhubaneswar. pic.twitter.com/NetUVKE5kv

— BJP Odisha (@BJP4Odisha) April 16, 2017

Earlier, in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday met the family members of the freedom fighters, who undertook an armed rebellion against the British rulers in the state in 1817.

"Unfortunately the massive struggle of independence in our country was restricted to few families and incidents," PM Modi said.

Hon'ble PM addressed families of freedom fighters who took part in the Historic Paika Rebellion against the British, at Bhubaneswar pic.twitter.com/A2Dxm17V0F — Dharmendra Pradhan (@dpradhanbjp) April 16, 2017

ଓଡିଶାର ବୀର ସ୍ୱାଧୀନତା ସଂଗ୍ରାମୀ ମାନଙ୍କ ଦାୟାଦ ମାନଙ୍କୁ ପ୍ରଧାନମନ୍ତ୍ରୀ ନରେନ୍ଦ୍ର ମୋଦିଙ୍କ ସମ୍ମାନ ଓଡିଆ ଜାତିର ଗୌରବ ବଢାଇଛି । pic.twitter.com/UdACedYc6r — Dharmendra Pradhan (@dpradhanbjp) April 16, 2017

The Prime Minister arrived here on Saturday amid massive fanfare for the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) two-day national executive meeting.

Senior party leader M.M. Joshi, Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu and other party leaders are also expected to be present at the meeting.

Prime Minister Modi landed at Biju Patnaik International Airport around 3:30 PM and was given a grand welcome by ministers.

Supporters thronged the streets as Prime Minister Modi made his way to the venue of the party meet from the airport. He leaned out of his vehicle many times to wave and greet the party workers and admirers who were trying their best to get a glimpse of him.

After reaching the venue, Prime Minister Modi got down at the entrance of the Raj Bhawan to greet onlookers and a few women leaders of the BJP. He also shook hands with many of them before getting into the car again to drive into the Odisha Governor's residence.

On arriving at the venue, Prime Minister Modi lit the lamp while Vande Mataram was played to mark the start of the national executive meet.

All 13 BJP Chief Ministers, including Uttar Pradesh's Yogi Adityanath, their deputies and 45 Union ministers are also attending the meet to prepare a roadmap for the Assembly and Lok Sabha elections in 2019.

The leaders will discuss the BJP's strategy to increase the party's political footprint ahead of the 2019 general elections, while eyeing the 2019 Odisha state elections.