Vice-President of India Jagdeep Dhankhar was accorded a warm and ceremonial welcome upon his arrival at the Annandale helipad in Shimla today.
He was received by HP Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla and Chief Minister Sukhu, with Deputy CM Mukesh Agnihotri and Public Works Minister Vikramaditya Singh — the designated Minister-in-Waiting — also in attendance.
A host of senior dignitaries welcomed the Vice-President, including Lt. General Devender Sharma (GOC-in-C, ARTRAC), Shimla Mayor Surender Chauhan, Chief Secretary Prabodh Saxena, DGP Ashok Tiwari, Deputy Commissioner Anupam Kashyap, and Superintendent of Police Gaurav Singh, along with other top officials of the state administration.
At Raj Bhavan, the Vice-President was received by Secretary to the Governor, C.P. Verma, and honoured with a ceremonial Guard of Honour.
As a gesture of goodwill on behalf of the people of Himachal Pradesh, the Governor presented the Vice-President with a traditional Himachali cap, shawl, and a memento.
The Vice-President will reside at Raj Bhavan during his stay and is scheduled to visit Solan on Saturday as part of his official engagements.