New Delhi: In an unusual display of warmth between two political arch-rivals, PM Narendra Modi and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal were seen interacting closely and discussing personal issues at a reception hosted by city's Police Commissioner BS Bassi on Tuesday.
Among the high-profile guests who attended the at-home hosted by the Delhi Police chief were President Pranab Mukherjee, who arrived late, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Rajnath Singh, LG Najeeb Jung and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who was apparently the show stopper.
Kejriwal, who arrived with his wife Sunita and his deputy Manish Sisodia in an Innova car, was instantly mobbed by guests invited for the function. Kejriwal walked into the marquee a few steps behind the Prime Minister and the two later sat at two ends of a sofa, with Rajnath Singh seated between them.
BJP's CM candidate and former IPS officer Kiran Bedi also sat on a chair next to Kejriwal – the two probably meeting for the first time in months after a high-voltage bitter electoral battle for Delhi.
During the interaction, Delhi CM had a bout of cough, which prompted PM Modi and others to inquire about his health and ask him to take proper care.
On being told by Sisodia that Kejriwal had been suffering from chronic bronchitis for the past 10-12 years, PM Modi then suggested Bengaluru-based Dr Nagendra's name to Kejriwal, stressing that he is an expert in treating chronic bronchitis.
AAP chief also nodded his head as if agreeing to PM Modi's advice.
Modi had made fierce attacks on Kejriwal in the run up to the crucial Assembly polls in Delhi; however, the AAP chief refrained from making any personal attack on the Prime Minister.
Interestingly, on Tuesday, the two were seen engaged in a brief but informal conversation and exchanging pleasantries.
The at-home hosted by Bassi came almost a week after AAP delivered a colossal blow to the BJP winning 67 of Delhi's 70 seats. The BJP could win only three and its CM candidate Bedi too lost her first ever election.
