The golden jubilee celebrations of Gujarat attaining statehood in 1960 began today with past and present MPs and MLAs coming together in the state Assembly.

Among those attended it were, L K Advani, Madhavsinh Solanki, Keshubhai Patel, Central ministers Dinsha Patel, Bharatsinh Solanki, Tushar Chaudhari, Rajya Sabha MP from Gujarat Arun Jaitley, State Congress President Siddharth Patel and Leader of opposition Shaktisinh Gohil.

Sonia Gandhi’s political secretary Ahmed Patel, Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and ex-Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee sent their messages. All these three dignitaries were once MP from Gujarat. Ex Chief Ministers Shankersinh Vaghela, Suresh Mehta and Dilip Parikh did not attend the function protesting alleged wastage of money by the Narendra Modi government.

The unique conclave named ‘Swarnim Gujarat Sansadiya Parishad(parliamentary conclave)’ was a three-hour long programme that began at 2 pm and end at 5 pm.

The former and sitting members of Parliament and state Legislative Assembly were briefed on the yearlong programmes to mark the occasion. About 25 wheel chairs were kept for old-age ex MLAs and MPs. Decoration of flowers was attractive and tune of live Shehnai performance by Shehnai artists specially called from Vadodara was in the air. A count-down clock for 1st May, 2010 was put in the assembly complex. The whole assembly complex has been decorated with lighting.

The session was presided over by state Governor Kamla Beniwal.