BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi on Thursday filed his nomination papers for the Lok Sabha elections from Varanasi constituency, saying he had been called by “Mother Ganga” to contest from this holy city.
He filed the papers after conducting a road show in the city.
Among those who proposed his nomination were Madan Mohan Malaviya’s grandson Giridhar Malaviya, Padma Vibhushan awardee Chhandu Lal Mishra, boatman Virbhadra Nishad and Ashok, a member of the dominant weaver community.
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Talking to reporters before filing his papers, Modi said he felt that “Mother Ganges” has called him to contest from this constituency,
”...Earlier I used to think that the BJP has sent me here, sometimes I felt that I am going to Kashi. But after coming here, I feel neither has anybody sent me nor have I come on my own. It is Mother Ganga who has called me.
“And the way a child feels when he is back in his mother’s lap, the same way I feel here,” said the Gujarat Chief Minister who is also contesting from Vadodara in his home State.
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He vowed to make Kashi a spiritual capital of the world.
“God... give me strength, so that I can work for the city, for my poor weaver brothers...so that Kashi can become a spiritual capital of the world,” Modi said.
The BJP leader sought to project common links between his birthplace in Vadnagar in Gujarat and Varanasi, saying both were pilgrim centres for worshippers of Lord Shiva.