Varanasi: “I am overwhelmed by the love of people. I feel blessed to be contesting from this holy city,†said Modi after filing nomination papers from Varanasi on Thursday. Dressed in pristine white he appeared before the crowd draped in saffron.
Priests and even people dressed as Gods took to the streets to welcome Modi. The sound of conch shells punctuated the sloganeering.
“I thought that BJP has sent me here. But after coming here, I feel that I have been called here by Mother Ganges and I feel like a child with its mother,†he said. Seeking the blessings of Mother Ganges, Modi said, “Varanasi should become the spiritual capital of the world. He was accompanied by Amit Shah and Lakshmikant Bajpai in his road show in Varanasi.
Madan Mohan Malaviya’s grandson Giridhar Malaviya, a retired judge of the Allahabad High Court, proposed Modi’s nomination.
Among the other Modi proposers were Padma Vibhushan Chhandu Lal Mishra, a noted classical singer of Benaras, boatman Virbhadra Nishad and Ashok, representing the dominant weaver community in Varanasi.
Earlier, thousands of people wearing saffron caps, Modi masks and holding BJP flags, lined up along Nadesar, Andhrapaul, Lahurabeer and Cant area in the heart of the city through which he carried out his road show before filing the nomination.
Immediately after reaching Banaras Hindu University, Modi paid floral tributes to Madan Mohan Malviya at the campus of the renowned educational institution.
The BJP supporters had started gathering along Modi’s route since morning to have a glimpse of Modi. Large number of people were seen on rooftops and balconies of all buildings along Modi’s route.
Modi carried out a two-km long road show before filing nomination at the District Magistrate’s office.
The party had invited all sections of people to the road show and had specifically requested the citizens from Punjab, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal to come in their traditional attire.
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