Prime Minister Narendra Modi conducted a grand procession in his Varanasi Lok Sabha constituency, where enthusiastic supporters adorned the streets of one of India’s most sacred cities with saffron flags on Monday. Seeking reelection for the third consecutive term from the Varanasi seat, which is scheduled for polls on June 1 during the seventh phase of the 2024 Lok Sabha election, PM Modi is set to submit his nomination papers on Tuesday, May 14.
Throughout the 6-km-long route in Varanasi, numerous women dressed in saffron led the way ahead of Modi’s vehicle, with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath accompanying the prime minister.
Key Points of PM Narendra Modi’s Visit to Varanasi:
1. On Tuesday, PM Modi plans to file his nomination papers following prayers at the Kaal Bhairav temple. Additionally, he might visit the Dashashwamedh Ghat on the Ganga’s banks around 9 am, as per a BJP statement issued in Lucknow, coinciding with the occurrence of Pushya Nakshatra and Ganga Saptami on May 14.
2. According to the schedule, Modi may embark on a cruise to the Namo Ghat in Varanasi before submitting his nomination papers. Subsequently, he will convene with BJP workers at the Rudraksha Convention Centre.
3. A BJP official informed HT that chief ministers from 12 BJP-governed and allied states, including UP CM Yogi Adityanath, are expected to be present during Modi’s nomination filing.
4. Furthermore, several Union ministers like Defense Minister Rajnath Singh and Home Minister Amit Shah, along with presidents of various National Democratic Alliance (NDA) allies, are anticipated to join the event in Varanasi. Modi might also partake in a ritual bath in the Ganga.
5. BJP insiders revealed that dignitaries likely to attend Modi’s nomination include CMs such as Nitish Kumar of Bihar, Pushkar Singh Dhami of Uttarakhand, Mohan Yadav of Madhya Pradesh, Vishnu Deo Sai of Chhattisgarh, and Eknath Shinde of Maharashtra, among others.
6. Surrounded by a vast sea of saffron on Monday, Modi’s procession spanned six kilometers before reaching the Kashi Vishwanath temple, where he offered prayers. The roadshow commenced from the Malviya Chauraha in Varanasi’s Lanka area.
7. Modi received a warm welcome from various communities, including Marathi, Gujarati, Bengali, Maheshwari, Marwari, Tamil, and Punjabi, at 100 designated points along the roadshow route.
8. BJP district secretary Shivanand Rai and party members presented a saree to the Ganga river on Monday, symbolizing prayers for the prime minister’s well-being and longevity in Varanasi. During the ceremony, a 400-meter-long saree was ceremonially offered to the River Ganga.
9. Varanasi serves as a stronghold for the BJP and Modi, who clinched victories in the 2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha elections. In 2019, Modi secured the seat with over 674,664 votes, commanding a vote share of 63.6%. Previously, in 2014, Modi contested from both Vadodara in Gujarat and Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh.
10. The Congress has nominated Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Ajay Rai as Modi’s opponent in Varanasi. This marks the third electoral face-off between Ajay Rai and Modi in a Lok Sabha contest.
