Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday submitted his nomination papers as the Bharatiya Janata Party’s candidate for Varanasi.
He filed his application in the presence of senior BJP leaders, including Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari, party president Amit Shah, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Adityanath, Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj, ally Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray, Shiromani Akali Dal Patron Parkash Singh Badal, Bihar Chief Minister and Janata Dal (United)’s Nitish Kumar and Union Minister and Lok Janshakti Party chief Ramvilas Paswan, the Hindustan Times reported.
Addressing BJP workers ahead of the nomination, Modi said the country was witnessing a pro-incumbency wave for the first time. “Earlier governments were formed, but in the past five years, people saw a government run,” he said, according to News18.
Declaration in affidavit
In his affidavit, Modi declared assets worth Rs 2.5 crore, movable assets worth Rs 1.41 crore and immovable assets worth Rs 1.1 crore, PTI reported. In 2014, Modi had disclosed total assets of Rs 1.65 crore.
He said he has fixed deposits of Rs 1.27 crore and Rs 38,750 cash in hand. The prime minister said he has invested Rs 20,000 in tax-saving infrastructure bonds, Rs 7.61 lakh in National Saving Certificate and another Rs 1.9 lakh in Life Insurance Corporation’s policies.
Modi has listed salary from government and interest from bank as his sources of income. Under property details in the affidavit, Modi declared a residential plot in Gandhinagar.
The prime minister has named Jashodaben as his wife in the affidavit. He mentioned “not known” under his wife’s source of income as well as occupation.
He has also mentioned that he has a Masters’ degree from Gujarat University in 1983. It also mentions that he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from the Delhi University in 1978.
On Thursday, Modi held a mega road show in his constituency and addressed a rally where he referred to his government’s response to the terror attacks in Pulwama and Uri as examples of the BJP’s commitment to the nation’s security.
Modi had contested and won from Varanasi during the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, securing 5.81 lakh votes. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal finished second with 2.09 lakh votes, while Congress’ Ajay Rai was in third place with over 75,000 votes.
Ajay Rai is the Congress candidate from Varanasi this time too. Polling in the constituency is scheduled for May 19. The results will be announced on May 23.
On April 9, the prime minister was criticised for asking first-time voters to dedicate their votes to the defence forces during a rally at Latur in Maharashtra. Reports said that the Election Commission is investigating if his Latur speech and another made on April 1 violated the Model Code of Conduct. The Election Commission in March had issued instructions not to use or mention the defence forces while campaigning.
On April 24, the Election Commission sought a report from election authorities in Gujarat after the Congress claimed Prime Minister Narendra Modi violated the Model Code of Conduct by holding a roadshow and making political remarks after casting his vote.
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