Varanasi, April 25: Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a roadshow in his parliamentary constituency, Varanasi on Thursday. The mega voter outreach programme saw large section of BJP cadres and supporters coming out in the streets to welcome the PM. The roadshow was kickstarted by him with garlanding of Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya's statue outside the Banaras Hindu University (BHU).

PM Modi's roadshow comes a day ahead of him filing his nomination papers from Varanasi. The candidature  filing process would be another high-octane spectacle, with leaders of the NDA camp - Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray, JD(U) president Nitish Kumar and Shiromani Akali Dal's Sukhbir Singh Badal scheduled to accompany him to the poll office. Live Updates of PM Modi's Roadshow in Varanasi.

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In 2014, PM Modi contested from the seat and won by a handsome margin. This time there were also rumours that Congress may field Priyanka Gandhi Vadra from the Varanasi Lok Sabha seat to challenge PM Modi. But Congress quashed the rumours and fielded Ajay Rai once again from the seat.

The SP-BSP combine has fielded Samajwadi Party leader Shalini Yadav from the constituency. Her candidature is expected to divide the anti-BJP votes and end up benefiting PM Modi.

Notably, 111 farmers of Tamil Nadu, who had protested on three occasions in the national capital, have announced their decision to challenge PM Modi in Varanasi. Their candidature is aimed at furthering their agitation against the alleged anti-farmer policies of the government.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 25, 2019 06:33 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).