Gandhinagar: A two-day state mourning would be observed as a mark of respect to the veteran Gandhian and former Chief Minister of Gujarat, Babubhai Jashbahi Patel who died on December 20 after a prolonged illness.

The national flag would fly half-mast throughout the state on December 20 and 21, according to an official release.

Floral tributes were paid to the veteran leader by various political and social organisations and wreaths were placed on the body of the deceased leader by Gujarat Governor Sunder Singh Bhandari and Chief Minister designate Narendra Modi at his Gandhinagar residence.

The Governor and the Chief Minister also met the bereaved family members.

Senior Congress leaders including Ahmed Patel, political advisor to Sonia Gandhi, GPCC president Shankersinh Vaghela, newly elected leader of Opposition in Gujarat Assembly Amarsinh Choudhary and others paid rich tributes to the former Chief Minister.

PTI