President visits old friend Madhavsinh Solanki in Gandhinagar

President Pranab Mukherjee today called upon former Gujarat chief minister and his "old friend" Madhavsinh Solanki at latter's residence here, during which the duo remembered their old days in Congress.
Solanki (89) had served as Union External Affairs Minister and worked closely with Mukherjee during the past Congress rule.
Mukherjee reached Solanki's residence in state capital here after delivering his speech at an education institute, on the last day of his two-day visit to Gujarat.
Mukherjee, a veteran Congressman, was received warmly by Solanki upon his arrival.
The President was accompanied by Gujarat Governor O P Kohli and Solanki's son Bharatsinh Solanki, president of state Congress unit.

"Our President spent some time with my father and remembered their past days when they used to work together for the party. Our President also inquired about my father's health. It was truly a great moment for us," said Bharatsinh after the meeting.

State Congress spokesperson Manish Doshi said it was the meeting of two old friends.
"Both of them are old friends. There was a time when Mukherjee almost left Congress due to his differences with then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. But, it was Solanki who became a mediator and convinced Mukherjee to come back to the party.
"Few months back, Solanki fell ill due to his age. Since Pranab-da was visiting Gandhinagar today, he expressed his desire to meet his old friend and inquire about his health," added Doshi.