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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday filed his nomination for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls from the Varanasi constituency in Uttar Pradesh.
In a mega show of strength, the Prime Minister was accompanied by the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) top allies to the Collectorate office where he filed the nomination papers.
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Shiromani Akali Dal chief Parkash Singh Badal, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray and Lok Janshakti Party chief Ram Vilas Paswan were present during the nomination filing.
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Leaders of the AIADMK, the Apna Dal and the North-East Democratic Alliance were also present.
Earlier in the day, PM Modi addressed a gathering of BJP workers in his constituency and said that “pro-incumbency wave is seen in the country for the first time since Independence”.
He said the entire country wants ‘Modi sarkar’ again.
Ahead of filing the nomination, PM Modi visited the famous Kal Bhairav temple in Varanasi.
On Thursday, in a prelude to nomination filing, PM Modi held a massive roadshow in his parliamentary constituency.
Starting from Banaras Hindu University (BHU), where the PM paid tributes to Bharat Ratna Madan Mohan Malviya, the roadshow ended at Dashashwamedh Ghat, where the PM performed the ‘Ganga aarti’.
The PM was accompanied by BJP president Amit Shah, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and a bevy of other BJP leaders at the ghat.
Modi, who contested and won from Varanasi for the first time in 2014, is looking for a second term in office as Prime Minister of India.
In 2014, the PM had won from both Varanasi and Vadodara. He left the seat in Gujarat and retained the one in UP, where the BJP won 70 of the 80 seats.
Meanwhile, the Congress on Thursday named Ajay Rai as its candidate against PM Modi in Varanasi. The Congress fielded Ajay Rai against Modi in 2014 as well. He finished third in the contest, after Modi and Aam Aadmi Party’s Arvind Kejriwal.
Varanasi is going to the polls in the seventh and final phase of the Lok Sabha elections on May 19. Results will be declared on May 23.
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