The Aryavarth Express
Agency (Varanasi): Prime Minister Narendra Modi filed his nomination for the Varanasi Lok Sabha constituency on Tuesday, seeking a third term. The event showcased a significant display of strength and unity, with several NDA leaders, including Union ministers and chief ministers, accompanying him.
Modi, dressed in a white kurta-pajama and blue sadri, began his day with an aarti on the banks of the Ganga at Dashashwamedh Ghat and prayers at the Kaal Bhairav temple. He then proceeded to the district collectorate to file his nomination papers. After completing the formalities, Modi addressed local party leaders and workers at the Rudraksha Convention Centre.
Among the prominent leaders present were BJP President J.P. Nadda, Union ministers Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh, Hardeep Singh Puri, Anupriya Patel, and Ramdas Athawale. Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, NCP leader Praful Patel, TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu, Jana Sena Party president Pawan Kalyan, Hindustani Awam Morcha-Secular founder Jitan Ram Manjhi, and Rashtriya Lok Morcha chief Upendra Kushwaha were also in attendance.
Other notable figures included Uttar Pradesh minister and NISHAD party chief Sanjay Nishad, Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party chief Omprakash Rajbhar, RLD chief Jayant Chaudhary, LJP (Ram Vilas) chief Chirag Paswan, PMK leader Anbumani Ramadoss, Tamil Maanila Congress chief G.K. Vasan, BJP leader Devanathan Yadav, BDJS president Thushar Vellappally, and Asom Gana Parishad president Atul Bora. Bihar Chief Minister and JD(U) president Nitish Kumar was absent due to health reasons.
Modi’s four proposers for the nomination were Pandit Ganeshwar Shastri, a long-time RSS functionary, Baijnath Patel, Lalchand Kushwaha, and Sanjay Sonkar. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath was also present at the collector’s office during the submission.
On the day of his nomination, Modi posted on ‘X’ expressing his deep connection with Varanasi, saying, “My relationship with Kashi is amazing, inseparable and incomparable… all I can say is that it cannot be expressed in words!” He also shared a clip from his roadshow the previous day, thanking the people of Varanasi for their love and blessings.
Voting in Varanasi will take place in the seventh phase of the Lok Sabha elections on June 1. The Congress has fielded Ajay Rai, its state unit president, from the seat, and the BSP has nominated Athar Jamal Lari.
