Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to file his nomination from the Varanasi seat for the Lok Sabha elections on Friday, 26 April. After addressing a gathering of BJP party workers and booth leaders, he will make his way to file his nomination.
All senior leaders of the BJP, NDA and North East Democratic Alliance are expected to be present in Varanasi to mark the occasion. PM Modi is expected to begin his schedule by offering prayers at the Kashi Vishwanath Temple.
On Thursday, PM Modi held a mega roadshow in Varanasi, drawing massive crowds, that culminated in a show of strength with the Ganga aarti at the Dashashwamedh ghat. Modi was joined by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and other senior BJP leaders in the temple town.
(Photo: PTI)
(Photo: PTI)
(Photo: PTI)
Snapshot
- Modi is on a two-day visit to his parliamentary constituency and is scheduled to file his nomination on Friday, 26 April.
- PM Modi’s mega roadshow drew massive crowds on Thursday, culminating in a show of strength at Dashashwamedh ghat
10:19 AM, 26 Apr
Make Political Pundits Want to Write Books on Varanasi Election
“The Varanasi election should be such that the country’s political pundits will want to write a book on it,” Modi said.
10:14 AM, 26 Apr
Want Victory of Democracy: PM Modi
“It is not important whether Modi wins with the most votes or not. That record does not matter... I am more interested in the victory of democracy,” Modi said.
10:13 AM, 26 Apr
Want Women's Turnout to Be 5% Higher Than That of Men: Modi
“I have a wish which I could not complete in Gujarat. Can I have it fulfilled in Benaras? I want women's turnout to be 5 percent higher than that of the men,” Modi said.
10:13 AM, 26 Apr
Mera Booth Sabse Mazboot: PM Modi
Modi said that his main aim was not to win the election but to win his booth because he would not enjoy winning the election if his workers lost at a polling booth. “Now, the only mantra should be that my booth is the strongest,” he said.
He also praised his workers for working and coming out to vote even in the heat at 40 degrees.
10:12 AM, 26 Apr
First Time There is Pro-Incumbency Wave in Country: PM Modi
PM Modi said that in the many elections that have been held in India, this is the first time a pro-incumbency wave is visible after Independence.
9:46 AM, 26 Apr
PM Modi Thanks Party Workers
Addressing BJP party workers in Varanasi, PM Modi thanked them, saying, “My Kashi workers sweated out and worked very hard to invite people for the show.” He added that it was because of their hard work that there was a wave of enthusiasm in the country.
He also said that he had once been a booth worker and had the privilege of putting up posters on walls.
9:28 AM, 26 Apr
PM Modi Addresses Gathering of Party Workers in Varanasi
PM Modi is addressing party workers and booth leaders at a gathering in Varanasi, ahead of filing his nomination.
9:18 AM, 26 Apr
Amit Shah, Other NDA Leaders Hold Meeting in Varanasi
BJP President Amit Shah and Rajnath Singh held a meeting of NDA leaders in Varanasi on Friday morning. Foreign minister Sushma Swaraj and Tamil Nadu deputy chief minister O. Panneerselvam are also in attendance at the meeting.
2:54 AM, 26 Apr
PM Modi Seeks 'Blessings', Talks National Security in Varanasi
After the mega roadshow, PM Narendra Modi tweeted, “To serve Kashi is an honour.”. He added, “Together, we have been able to achieve a lot, especially futuristic infrastructure, more cleanliness and greater ‘Ease of Living.’ I seek Kashi’s blessings for another term so that we can continue working for this blessed city.”
10:00 PM, 25 Apr
'Last 5 Years Were Beginning of Development, Next 5 Will Be of Prestige'
“Past five years have been an effort of honesty and the coming five years are going to extend those efforts. The past five years were a beginning of development, next five years will be of prestige.”
-PM Narendra Modi
The prime minister said that the terrorists killed 40 Indian soldiers in Pulwama, "and in that same area, we eliminated 42 terrorists". "This is the way we work," he added.
9:48 PM, 25 Apr
No Terrorist attacks on Temples in Past 5 Years: Modi
PM Modi said, “Kashi has not only made me an MP, it blessed me to become the prime minister. Trust of 1.3 crore Indians' belief has given me strength.”
“In the past five years, no city, no temple has come under the terror atack. Terrorism is now limited in a small region in Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.
9:44 PM, 25 Apr
Only One Mantra - India First: Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed a public rally, where he said, “No matter what happens, I will not care about any benefits other than nation's benefit. I only have one mantra and I have lived by that one mantra throughout my life - Nation First, India First.”
9:05 PM, 25 Apr
Modi Performs Aarti
Prime Minister Narendra Modi performs Ganga aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat
8:30 PM, 25 Apr
PM Offers Prayers at Dashashwamedh Ghat
PM Narendra Modi offers prayers at Dashashwamedh Ghat in Varanasi
7:48 PM, 25 Apr
PM Modi Performs Ganga Aarti
After concluding the roadshow, Prime Minister Narendra Modi performed Ganga aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat.
7:38 PM, 25 Apr
PM Modi Arrives at Dashashwamedh Ghat
After concluding the mega roadshow, PM Narendra Modi will perform evening Ganga aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat.
7:10 PM, 25 Apr
Modi to Arrive at Dashashwamedh Ghat Shortly
Prime Minister Narendra Modi to arrive at Dashashwamedh Ghat shortly.
6:09 PM, 25 Apr
Glimpses of Modi's Roadshow
(Photo Courtesy: Twitter/BJP)
(Photo Courtesy: Twitter/BJP)
(Photo Courtesy: Twitter/BJP)
(Photo Courtesy: Twitter/BJP)
(Photo Courtesy: Twitter/BJP)
(Photo: ANI)
5:51 PM, 25 Apr
Amit Shah, Yogi Also Present at Modi's Roadshow
BJP President Amit Shah and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath are among the party leaders who are accompanying PM Modi at the roadshow.
5:42 PM, 25 Apr
Grateful For the Warmth, Tweets PM Modi
Varanasi has come out on streets to attend the prime minister’s roadshow.
5:33 PM, 25 Apr
PM Modi's Roadshow Begins
After paying tribute to Pt Madan Mohan Malaviya, PM Modi began his roadshow amid the chants of “Modi! Modi!”
5:19 PM, 25 Apr
PM Modi Pays Tribute to Pt Madan Mohan Malaviya
Prime Minister Narendra Modi began his roadshow in Varanasi by paying tribute to Pt Madan Mohan Malaviya, outside Banaras Hindu University.
5:06 PM, 25 Apr
People Flood Streets in Varanasi Ahead of PM's Roadshow
3:58 PM, 25 Apr
Modi's Varanasi Roadshow To Begin Shortly
After concluding his rallies in Darbhanga and Banda, Prime Minister Modi tweeted, “After bumper rallies in Darbhanga and Banda, I am heading to beloved Kashi.”
2:06 PM, 25 Apr
Modi to Start Roadshow by Garlanding Statue of Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya
Modi, who will file his nomination papers for the Varanasi Lok Sabha seat on Friday, is expected to start his Varanasi roadshow by first garlanding the statue of Banaras Hindu University founder Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya.
Top Bharatiya Janata Party leaders, including Union ministers Sushma Swaraj, Nitin Gadkari, Piyush Goyal and Nirmala Sitharaman, as well as BJP president Amit Shah and chief ministers of BJP-ruled states are expected to accompany him, reported PTI.
3:53 AM, 25 Apr
PM Modi to File Nomination from Varanasi on 26 April
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will file his nomination papers for the Varanasi Lok Sabha seat on Friday, 26 April, 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 will also be in attendance when the PM files his nominations at 11:30 am on Friday, the BJP said.
On Friday, the PM would be addressing booth heads and party workers at 9:30 am.
"After this program, around 11 am, the PM will go and worship the city god Kal Bhairav. At 11.30 am, PM will file his nomination for Varanasi Lok Sabha seat," said the release.
"In this (nomination) program, Akali Dal's senior leader and former chief minister (Punjab) Shri Parkash Singh Badal ji, Bihar chief minister and JDU chief Shri Nitish Kumar ji, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray ji, central minister and president of Lok Janshakti Party Ram Vilas Paswanji will be present," the press release said.
BJP’s press release added that leaders of AIADMK, Apna Dal and North-East Democratic Alliance (NEDA) will also be present.
3:38 AM, 25 Apr
PM Modi to Hold Mega Road Show Ahead of Filing Nomination from Varanasi
A day before filing his nomination, the PM will hold a "major roadshow" in Varanasi that will start from the Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya's statue and end at Dashashwamedh Ghat, according to a party press release issued on Wednesday.
"After the roadshow, the Prime Minister will participate in the Ganga Arti at Dashashwamedh Ghat. After that, at 8 pm, he will have a conversation with eminent personalities of Varanasi at Hotel De Paris," the BJP said.