As Prime Minister Narendra Modi embarked on a 45-hour meditation retreat at the Vivekananda Rock Memorial in Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu, in the final days leading up to the June 1 Lok Sabha elections, his constituency of Varanasi was notably absent from his itinerary.
The responsibility of overseeing the election campaign in Varanasi fell to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who held meetings with senior BJP leaders such as Union Ministers Piyush Goel and Giriraj Singh, along with BJP national general secretary Sunil Bansal. Together with a team of key BJP and RSS functionaries, they managed the party’s affairs in the run-up to the voting.
Shah met with BJP ally and Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP) chief Om Prakash Rajbhar and former Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Narad Rai, who recently joined the BJP. Assigning tasks to his senior colleagues and allies, Shah strategized to maximize the party’s electoral gains in Varanasi.
Despite the absence of the PM, the BJP mobilized workers from various states and districts of Uttar Pradesh to bolster their campaign efforts. Party workers from Puducherry, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Rajasthan were deployed to canvass areas with significant populations of Tamils, Telugu people, and Rajasthanis.
In contrast, the Congress appeared to lack momentum in Varanasi. UP Congress president Ajay Rai focused on preparations for rallies and delegated responsibilities to local leaders. Despite acknowledging the uphill battle, Congress leaders expressed hopes of reducing the BJP’s victory margin, viewing it as a moral victory against Modi.
However, BJP city president Vidyasagar Rai exuded confidence, citing support from various communities and dismissing the Congress’s calculations. With the backing of Brahmins, Thakurs, Baniyas, Patels, Dalits, and migrants settled in Varanasi, the BJP remained optimistic about securing a decisive victory.
The political landscape of Varanasi reflects the diverse interests and concerns of its residents. While some, like power loom owners, expressed grievances over GST policies, others, particularly those in the tourism sector, praised Modi’s developmental initiatives, which have boosted tourism and economic activity in the region.
As the election day approached, the contrasting perspectives underscored the complexity of Varanasi’s socio-economic fabric and the stakes involved for political parties vying for dominance in this historic city.