Narendra Modi, the BJP candidate from Varanasi Lok Sabha constituency, will file his nomination papers for the election on April 24.
Making the announcement here on Saturday, the BJP prime ministerial candidate's pointsman in UP, Amit Shah, claimed that the BJP would win 18 out of the 21seats for which elections have so far been held in the State.
When Mr. Modi files his nomination,"this wave will transform into a tsunami," he told reporters at the BJP headquarters.
Varanasi goes to the polls on May 12.
Attacking the Congress, Mr. Shah said the party had run out of issues and to conceal its failures its top leaders were resorting to personal attacks and accusations.
Asked for his comments on SP leader and Urban Development Minister Azam Khan terming the EC "anti-Muslim" for banning his campaign, Mr. Shah said, "We should all respect it (EC). I also respect it."
Mr. Shah also clarified his comments that the BJP would topple the SP government if it came to power, saying: "Nobody said we will topple the government. Mulayam's government will topple on its own."
