Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Varanasi Airport. (DD National)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi landed in Varanasi this morning, his first visit to his Lok Sabha constituency since he took charge in May. He is expected to adopt a village under the MP Model Village Scheme in a message to other parliamentarians to do the same in their constituencies.
The PM was received at the Varanasi airport by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav of the Samajwadi Party. PM Modi will be in his constituency for over 24 hours and has a packed schedule.
Jayapur village, 24 km away from the ancient temple town of Varanasi, is expected to be picked as Mr Modi's model village and has been prepping - amid unusual attention from officials and the media - to receive Mr Modi, who will make a public address there.
MP Modi has his task cut out - the village of 4,200 people has only one well for drinking water, its women say they have to bathe in the open and the lack of electricity is huge problem.
Soon after the BJP won the Lok Sabha elections in May, Mr Modi had made a thanksgiving visit to the city; he had offered prayers at the famous Kashi Vishwanath temple and had taken part in the Ganga Aarti.
Each of his visits to the city have seen thousands of people pour out and line the narrow streets as he has driven through them, hoping to catch a glimpse of their star lawmaker.
Among the oldest cities in the world, Varanasi has been constantly in the spotlight ever since Mr Modi chose to retain this Uttar Pradesh constituency and gave up the other seat he had won in the national elections - Vadodara in his home state of Gujarat.
Residents of Varanasi hope its new VIP profile will ensure that its crumbling infrastructure and lack of basic amenities will be addressed.
Today, he is also expected to inaugurate several projects including one to uplift the lot of weavers in Varanasi.