Narendra Modi pays respect at a statue of Madan Mohan Malaviya at the Banaras Hindu University before his roadshow
Varanasi:
Narendra Modi has landed in a Varanasi painted saffron as thousands of BJP workers pour out on the streets of the ancient temple town to welcome the party's prime ministerial candidate. The sound of conch shells punctuates the sloganeering.
A singer, a weaver, a boatman and a retired high court judge will propose Mr Modi's name as he files his nomination papers here.
He has cannily chosen a polling day to file his papers. His party is backing that with a grand show to ascertain top of the mind recall as votes are cast in 117 constituencies in 11 states. (India Votes 2014: coverage)
In a mega build-up to the Modi road show, people from different states, in traditional attire, are crowding the two-km route from the Banaras Hindu University or BHU, where his chopper landed to the collectorate office, where he will file his papers.
The BJP leader will make multiple stops on the way to interact with people and in at least three places will garland statues - freedom fighter Sardar Vallabhai Patel and thinker Swami Vivekananad are leaders he avowedly follows and profusely quotes. He will also garland a BR Ambedkar statue. (Also Read: Modi's Patel statue project: who said what)
Among those who will propose his name is Giridhar Malaviya, retired judge of the Allahabad High Court and the grandson of BHU founder Madan Mohan Malaviya, who was a four-time president of the Indian National Congress. The others are Chhandu Lal Mishra, a noted classical singer, boatman Virbhadra Nishad and Ashok, who represents the dominant weaver community. (Bismillah Khan's family refuses to take sides in Varanasi's political battle)
Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal has challenged Mr Modi in Varanasi. He filed his nomination yesterday in a massive roadshow, comparing the "old jeep" that he drove in to Mr Modi's helicopter. (Also Read: In this poll, Narendra Modi is second to Kejriwal) | (I have Rs. 500 in my pocket and an old jeep: Arvind Kejriwal in Varanasi)
In a blog post, Mr Modi has promised "a magnificent future for Varanasi" and an end to "a larger decay across UP." Seeking support, he writes, "Bless me so that I can restore this glorious city to its prime and so that I can bring a sea of change in the lives of people of Varanasi and Poorvanchal."
A singer, a weaver, a boatman and a retired high court judge will propose Mr Modi's name as he files his nomination papers here.
He has cannily chosen a polling day to file his papers. His party is backing that with a grand show to ascertain top of the mind recall as votes are cast in 117 constituencies in 11 states. (India Votes 2014: coverage)
In a mega build-up to the Modi road show, people from different states, in traditional attire, are crowding the two-km route from the Banaras Hindu University or BHU, where his chopper landed to the collectorate office, where he will file his papers.
The BJP leader will make multiple stops on the way to interact with people and in at least three places will garland statues - freedom fighter Sardar Vallabhai Patel and thinker Swami Vivekananad are leaders he avowedly follows and profusely quotes. He will also garland a BR Ambedkar statue. (Also Read: Modi's Patel statue project: who said what)
Among those who will propose his name is Giridhar Malaviya, retired judge of the Allahabad High Court and the grandson of BHU founder Madan Mohan Malaviya, who was a four-time president of the Indian National Congress. The others are Chhandu Lal Mishra, a noted classical singer, boatman Virbhadra Nishad and Ashok, who represents the dominant weaver community. (Bismillah Khan's family refuses to take sides in Varanasi's political battle)
Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal has challenged Mr Modi in Varanasi. He filed his nomination yesterday in a massive roadshow, comparing the "old jeep" that he drove in to Mr Modi's helicopter. (Also Read: In this poll, Narendra Modi is second to Kejriwal) | (I have Rs. 500 in my pocket and an old jeep: Arvind Kejriwal in Varanasi)
In a blog post, Mr Modi has promised "a magnificent future for Varanasi" and an end to "a larger decay across UP." Seeking support, he writes, "Bless me so that I can restore this glorious city to its prime and so that I can bring a sea of change in the lives of people of Varanasi and Poorvanchal."
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