‘Election for Kashi signifies creation of developed India’: PM Modi urges voters of Varanasi to make new record on June 1

New Delhi [India], May 30 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday appealed voters of Varanasi to set a new record in voting on June 1, adding that the election for Kashi signifies the creation of not only ‘Navkashi’ but also a developed India.

Ahead of the 7th phase of Lok Sabha Polls scheduled on June 1, PM Modi in a video message for Varanasi, from where he is contesting the election for the third consecutive time, said that Kashi has become a land of opportunities.

“For me, Kashi is a city of devotion, power and detachment. Kashi is the cultural capital of the world, the land of music. Being the representative of this city is possible only with the immense grace of Baba Vishwanath and the blessings of you Kashi residents,” the Prime Minister said.

PM Modi termed the upcoming election as a pivotal moment not just for Varanasi but for the entire nation.

“This time’s election for Kashi is an election for the creation of not only ‘Navkashi’ but also a developed India. The people of Kashi have to make a new record on June 1. Kashi has become the capital of youth welfare and development in the last 10 years,” he added.

Recalling the excitement among young people during his nomination, the Prime Minister said, “On the day I filed my nomination, I could see the excitement in the youth of Kashi.”

“I hope to see similar excitement on each and every booth on the day of polling. Each vote of the people of Kashi will add to my strength and provide me with new energy,” the Prime Minister added.

Varanasi is set for a fierce battle between PM Modi and Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Ajay Rai in the last phase of the Lok Sabha elections on June 1.

Varanasi is a closely watched constituency in the last phase of the Lok Sabha election, is one of the 80 Lok Sabha constituencies in Uttar Pradesh, with five assembly segments Rohaniya, Varanasi North, Varanasi South, Varanasi Cantt, and Sevapuri.

The Bharatiya Janata Party has fielded its Prime Minister Modi, while Ajay Rai from the Congress and Athar Jamal Lari from the Bahujan Samaj Party have filed their nominations against him.

PM Modi, the sitting MP and BJP’s candidate is seeking a third consecutive term from the constituency and hoping to win with a record margin.

In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, PM Modi won the seat with over 6,74,664 votes and commanded a vote share of 63.6 per cent.

In 2014, PM Modi won the Varanasi seat for the first time on a BJP ticket, receiving 56.37 per cent of the total votes, while Arvind Kejriwal from the AAP came in second with 20.30 per cent and Ajay Rai from the Congress party came in third with 7.34 per cent of the votes. PM Modi won the elections with a margin exceeding 3 lakh votes.

In the 2019 general elections, the BJP emerged triumphant, securing 62 out of 80 seats in Uttar Pradesh, supplemented by two seats clinched by its ally Apna Dal (S). Mayawati’s BSP managed to secure 10 seats, while Akhilesh Yadav’s SP garnered five. Conversely, the Congress party secured only one seat.

The voting in Varanasi will be held in the seventh phase of the Lok Sabha elections on June 1. The counting of the votes will take place on June 4.