Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Friday exhorted BJP workers in Varanasi and elsewhere to post a historic pro-incumbency wave for his government, as well as asked them to guard against complacency and the tendency to underestimate any opponent, despite the fact that media attention on the contest in Varanasi was reduced after certain announcements yesterday.
On Thursday, the Congress declared Ajay Rai as its candidate again for the Varanasi seat, bringing to an end all speculation that its general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra would be contesting from there.
Mr. Modi, making the address just before he filed his nomination papers, bemoaned the fact that party workers may perhaps get complacent after television channels, losing interest in the contest in Varanasi, withdrew from the scene.
“TV channels will lose TRP [television ratings points] after some announcements. You [pointing to party workers] may feel that Modiji will win anyway. Do not underestimate any opponent big or small, treat all with respect and courtesy and make sure that all our booths register victories for the BJP,” he said.
“Hekdi maarni nahin chahiye, namrata se chunaav ladiye” [no need to swagger around, engage with courtesy],” he said. He also asked the party workers to ensure that women voters polled at least five percent more than male voters, and that every first-time voter should be reached out to. “We must ensure that democracy wins, that Varanasi shows a historically high turnout”, he said, adding that “the people have decided and for the first time there is a pro-incumbency wave.”
In what was basically a pep talk to party workers ahead of polls in Varanasi (the city goes to the polls in the last phase of elections), Mr. Modi said party workers were less lucky since they had a candidate who would “fill the form” and not stay out to campaign, but that his luck was good that he had party workers who each thought they were the candidate.
