Prime Minister Narendra Modi filed his nomination for a third consecutive term as the Member of Parliament from Varanasi, the city he describes as having an "inseparable and incomparable" relationship with.

Modi's day began with a visit to the sacred city, where he offered prayers at the revered Dasaswamedh Ghat and Kaal Bhairav Temple. Capturing his sentiments on X (formerly Twitter), Modi shared, “My relationship with my Kashi is amazing, inseparable, and incomparable. All I can say is it cannot be expressed in words!"

Joined by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and four proposers representing diverse communities, Modi completed the nomination process. The symbolism of inclusivity was evident in the selection of proposers – a Brahmin, an OBC, a Dalit, and a long-time RSS volunteer.

This election marks another face-off between Modi and Uttar Pradesh Congress Chief Ajai Rai, who also contested against him in 2014 and 2019. The Bahujan Samaj Party has fielded Athar Ali Lari as their candidate.

Modi's victories in 2014 and 2019 were resounding, with progressively larger margins, highlighting his strong hold over the constituency.

The filing ceremony witnessed a confluence of prominent NDA leaders, including Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and various regional allies, underlining the strong support for Modi's candidacy.

Leaders like N Chandrababu Naidu, TDP supremo, expressed unshakeable confidence in NDA's victory, predicting over 400 seats for the alliance and a clean sweep in Andhra Pradesh. Jana Sena Party chief Pawan Kalyan, echoing similar sentiments, praised Modi's leadership and predicted a clear NDA win in Andhra Pradesh.

Varanasi, a BJP stronghold since 1991, will vote in the final phase of the Lok Sabha elections on June 1st, marking a pivotal moment in Indian politics. BJP is confident that it will form the government winning more than 400 seats in the elections and PM Modi also has been reiterating the same during his rallies across the country.