PM Modi plays Santa Claus on Twitter, replies to birthday wishers, enthralls social media

His first visit to Gujarat after taking oath as Prime Minister had two major political programmes, the launch of the Swavalamban Abhiyan- a set of 11 new pro-poor initiatives of the Gujarat Government and the visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping. The schedule was punishing and there was not a minute to relax.

Yet, after returning to Delhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to Twitter, to thank friends and well wishers who wished him on his birthday. In a 'chat' session that lasted almost an hour, Prime Minister Modi thanked Cabinet colleagues, spiritual leaders and common people. He also thanked Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and even re-tweeted his Tweet, something he did not do for anybody else thus showing their special friendship.

Around 10.45 p.m., those on Twitter started witnessing increased activity on Prime Minister Modi's Twitter page. No, it was not his usual tweets but the Prime Minister replying to people. As soon as a couple of replies were out, enthusiastic fans started tweeting.

Those who got the replies; said they were thrilled; and those who were seeking a reply waited in anticipation.

For example, on September 17, replying to Mr. Alok Bhatt, who said that his daughter had asked him to send a greeting card, prepared by her to the Prime Minister, the Prime Minister replied, "@alok_bhatt Really kind of her! Please convey my good wishes to her. And thank you for your wishes."

The Prime Minister replied to as many as 50 well wishers. One of them, who received the reply albeit a bit later commented that he was happy seeing others get the reply to which PM remarked- that is the spirit! Another one, dismayed at not getting among the first reply, asked whether Modi had 'muted' him, to which Modi instantly asked where is the question of muting him.

Another well wisher from Uttarakhand shared his daughter's poem for the Prime Minister, who thanked both the father and daughter for their good wishes. A fan from Mumbai remarked that what can be better than the PM himself replying to greetings!

It was a mini-carnival out there.