Modi bows on parliament steps before entering

Prime Minister-elect Narendra Modi bends down on the steps of the main entrance of Parliament as a sign of respect as he arrives for the BJP parliamentary party meeting at Central Hall in New Delhi on Tuesday. PTI Photo

It was BJP prime minister-designate Narendra Modi's first visit to parliament's Central Hall Tuesday and he marked the occasion by bowing on the steps of the entrance to the building before entering.

After alighting from the car, Modi bent his forehead and touched the steps before entering the building for the meeting of his party's parliamentary party, where he was elected its leader.

BJP leaders Gopinath Munde and Nitin Gadkari greeted Modi at the entrance.

Party president Rajnath Singh said Modi was visiting the Central Hall for the first time.

Addressing his party MPs, Modi also recalled he saw the Gujarat chief minister's office and the state assembly for the first time only after becoming the chief minister of the western state in 2001.