Prime Minister Narendra Modi embarked on a significant electoral journey by filing his nomination papers from the Varanasi Lok Sabha seat on May 14, accompanied by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and the four mandated proposers.
Varanasi, a constituency that PM Modi has clinched twice before, is slated to go to polls in the final phase of the General Elections, on June 1.
“Varanasi holds a special place in my heart, and it’s an honour to represent its people in the Lok Sabha,” PM Modi remarked, reflecting on his past victories in 2014 and 2019.
This time, PM Modi faces opposition from Congress party’s Ajai Rai and Bahujan Samajwadi Party’s Athar Ali Lari. Despite the challengers, PM Modi remains confident, buoyed by his resounding victory in 2019 with a winning margin of nearly 4.8 lakh votes, a substantial increase from his 2014 margin of 3.72 lakh votes.
The electoral arena in Varanasi has garnered additional attention with comedian Shyam Rangeela’s announcement of his intent to contest against PM Modi. However, as of now, Rangeela has not filed nomination papers for the seat.
Before proceeding to file his nomination, PM Modi engaged in spiritual rituals, offering prayers at Varanasi’s iconic Dashashwamedh Ghat and visiting the revered Kaal Bhairav Temple, highlighting the spiritual connection he shares with the city.
Expressing his sentiments, PM Modi remarked, “My bond with Kashi is indescribable and profound. It transcends words.”
Varanasi’s people have historically favoured the BJP, with the party emerging victorious eight times since 1991, except for a brief interlude in 2004 when RK Mishra of the Congress secured the seat. The forthcoming elections on June 1 promise to be a pivotal moment in the city’s political trajectory.
The ceremony for PM Modi’s nomination was attended by prominent leaders from the BJP and its allies, including Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav. Also present were leaders from other political outfits, including RLD chief Jayant Chaudhary, LJP leader Chirag Paswan, and SBSP president Om Prakash Rajbhar.
Notably, PM Modi chose an auspicious time between 11:40 am and 12 noon to file his nomination papers, coinciding with the alignment of Pushya Nakshatra and Ganga Saptami on May 14. Astrologers like Pandit Rishi Dwivedi have spoken about the significance of this celestial alignment, believing it to portend success and fulfilment of aspirations.
