Our party did not win a seat here, but Kerala as dear to me as Varanasi: PM Modi

“Those who made us win are ours, those who did not make us win are also ours,” Modi said.

Modi landed at the Naval air base in Kochi late Friday night, around 11 pm, and proceeded to the Ernakulam Guest House for the night. This morning, he took a chopper to reach the temple.

After offering prayers at the temple, PM Modi tweeted: “The Guruvayur Temple is divine and magnificent. Prayed at this iconic Temple for the progress and prosperity of India.”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Sri Krishna Temple in Guruvayur of Thrissur. (Twitter: @BJP4India)

Security was tightened at the temple ahead of his visit. The centuries-old temple, located in Thrissur district, is one of the important places of Hindu worship in the state.

The Guruvayur Temple is divine and magnificent. Prayed at this iconic Temple for the progress and prosperity of India. pic.twitter.com/sB5I4GEYZA

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 8, 2019

The Prime Minister also performed a ‘thulabharam’ (a ritual with weighing scales) using lotus flowers. He has visited the temple in the past during his stint as the chief minister of Gujarat. This is his first visit to a religious place since becoming the PM for a second term.

A blessed moment from the Guruvayur Temple. pic.twitter.com/MgBLNM3IHJ

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 8, 2019

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Thrissur: Prime Minister Narendra Modi weighed against lotus flowers as he offers his prayers at Lord Krishna temple in Guruvayur of Thrissur district, Saturday, June 8, 2019. (PTI)

PM Modi, after visiting the temple, addressed a public meeting at Guruvayoor where he said, “I have got a chance to come to this land of Guruvayur once again. This is a source of inspiration. I applaud the supporters and people of Kerala for their active participation in the festival of democracy to strengthen the democratic fabric of our nation. Elections have an important role in our democracy but after elections it becomes more important to have a sense of responsibility towards the 130 crore citizens.

“We are not in politics to only form a government. But, we are here to serve the people of the country. We have undertaken several initiatives to strengthen the tourism sector in Kerala,” the Prime Minister added.

BJP Thrissur district president A Nagesh told indianexpress.com that PM Modi, after his temple visit, will address party workers at a programme at the Sree Krishna Higher Secondary School ground. “BJP workers of the Nattika, Guruvayur, Manalur and Kunnamkulam Assembly segments will participate in the programme,” he added.

Following the BJP programme in Guruvayur, Modi will fly back to Kochi Saturday afternoon from where he will take off for the Maldives for the first bilateral trip of his second term.

(Inputs from PTI)