Mar 20, 2024, 04:20 PM IST
Lok Sabha 2024 polls start April 14, results on June 4. Uttar Pradesh conducts elections in seven phases for its 80 constituencies.
PM Modi running from Varanasi for the third time. Won in 2014, 2019, surpassing Joshi's victory margin.
Congress yet to announce Varanasi candidate. Speculations of Priyanka Gandhi Vadra in 2019, but Ajay Rai nominated.
Varanasi district has 30,78,735 voters: 16,62,490 men, 14,16,071 women, 174 third-gender. Varanasi LS area has 19,62,948 voters: 10,65,485 men, 8,97,328 women, 135 third-gender.
52,174 first-time voters aged 18-19, 31,538 in Varanasi LS area. Exceeds voters aged 80 and above: 41,356 district-wide, 25,984 in Varanasi LS constituency.
Except Congress, no other party announced candidate against PM Modi. Samajwadi Party's Surendra Patel declared candidature.
The BJP wants Modi to win big. Leaders Dilip Singh Patel and Vidyasagar Rai are leading this effort.
Varanasi's election is big because Modi's there, and it's an important place.
BJP is strong there, but Congress hasn't picked a candidate yet. So, there's going to be a lot of campaigning and planning in Varanasi.