Highlights: PM Narendra Modi files nomination from Varanasi

Background

VARANASI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi filed his nomination papers for the Varanasi Lok Sabha seat today, a day after he held a mega roadshow and performed the Ganga aarti on Thursday.  While addressing a gathering in the temple town, Modi on Thursday sought assurance from the people of Varanasi to win the election for him. "I would leave after filing nominations tomorrow and would then come back to thank you after I win."

On Thursday, 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.

Modi filed papers in the presence of senior NDA leaders including JDU president Nitish Kumar and Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray. Shiromani Akali Dal's Parkash Singh Badal and Lok Janshakti Party chief Ram Vilas Paswan were also present when the PM filed his nominations on Friday.

Earlier today, PM Modi also addressed booth heads and party workers at 9.30 am. Modi is re-contesting from Varanasi Lok Sabha seat in Uttar Pradesh. Modi won the seat in 2014 by defeating Aam Aadmi Party national convenor Arvind Kejriwal and Ajay Rai of the Congress. Varanasi goes to the polls on May 19 in the seventh phase of the Lok Sabha elections.

12:41 PM (IST)  •  26 Apr 2019

After filing nomination, PM Narendra Modi says: I deeply express gratitude towards people of Kashi. They have again blessed me after 5 years. Such a grand roadshow yesterday was possible only in Kashi.

12:23 PM (IST)  •  26 Apr 2019

PM Modi leaves the Collectorate Office after filing his nomination.

12:02 PM (IST)  •  26 Apr 2019

I am lucky to be PM Modi's proposer, says Annapurna Shukla

11:51 AM (IST)  •  26 Apr 2019

PM was accompanied by BJP chief Amit Shah, Union ministers Nitin Gadkari, Sushma Swaraj and other major NDA leaders, including Nitish Kumar and Uddhav Thackeray at the Collectorate office.

11:46 AM (IST)  •  26 Apr 2019

PM Narendra Modi files nomination from Varanasi parliamentary constituency. In the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, Modi, who contested from two seats -- Varanasi and Vadodara in Gujarat -- defeated Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) supremo and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal from here. Congress's Rai had finished third.