Lok Sabha elections: PM Modi takes Varanasi by storm with mega roadshow

Cheered on by a massive crowd, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a mega road show in Varanasi, a day before he filed his nomination papers for a second term in the Lok Sabha.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi waves at supporters during his roadshow, a day ahead of filing his nomination papers for the Lok Sabha polls, in Varanasi. PTI Photo

VARANASI: Cheered on by a massive crowd, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday held a mega roadshow in Varanasi, taking his parliamentary constituency by storm. Huge crowds turned out to cheer their parliamentarian, who was symbolically dressed in a saffron kurta and scarf. In a show of strength, Modi was joined by BJP President Amit Shah, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and other senior BJP leaders. Modi started his 7-km roadshow by first garlanding the statue of Banaras Hindu University (BHU) founder Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya. He was greeted by his supporters who throng in thousands as his cavalcade passed through the streets of Kashi. The road show meandered through the ancient temples and ghats such as Assi, Bhadini, Sonarpura, Madanpura, Jangambari and Godowlia and culminated at the Dashashwamedh Ghat where the Prime Minister held a 'puja' and attended the 'Ganga pujan' after the Ganga 'aarti' which had been delayed. The 'Ganga aarti' is held at 6.50.p.m everyday but today it was held almost an hour behind scheduled. Ramlila artistes from one of the city's oldest troupes, the Mauni Baba Ram Lila Committee which is 522 years old, accompanied the convoy. Slogans like "Modi pure hai, baaki sab chor hai" and "Har jagah Modi ka danka, haar gayi Priyanka" rang out as rose petals were showered on the Prime Minister. The roadshow ended at the Dashashwamedh Ghat where Modi took part in the Ganga aarti along with BJP president Amit Shah. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said if the size of the support expressed at the roadshow is any indication, the Prime Minister is well on the way repeating or even increasing the 2014 victory margin. Before reaching Varanasi, Modi had tweeted: "After bumper rallies in Darbhanga and Banda, I am heading to beloved Kashi." "There are a series of programmes lined up, which would give me another excellent opportunity to interact with my sisters and brothers of Kashi. Har Har Mahadev!" he had tweeted. The show of strength, incidentally, took place on a day when the Congress put to rest all speculation about Priyanka Gandhi Vadra contesting from Varanasi and announced the candidature of Ajay Rai as the party nominee. Varanasi will go to polls in the last phase on May 19. (With inputs from agencies)