PM Narendra Modi asks Varanasi to break polling record

VARANASI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked BJP booth workers not to get complacent about his victory from this seat and work hard to ensure that all records of polling are broken. He also set a target of getting at least five per cent more women than men to vote for the party.

Modi struck an emotional chord with the party booth level workers of the constituency as he emphasised that as he will be away from Varanasi for campaigning across the country, it is they who will have to act as the candidate and seek votes. He also gave them several tips, a common Modi practice during his interactions, on reaching out to the voters.

Modi said for him the victory margin is not an issue and many people will say he won as he is the prime minister. “But you have to ensure that a record is broken- that in the heat of May we will break all records of polling.”


“I keep saying the number of women voters should be 5 per cent more than men. I could not do this even in Gujarat. But you have to do it here,” Modi said, adding that each vote is important.

Drawing an analogy from Mahabharat, Modi said just as Lord Krishna had cowherds, he has the support of workers here. “Krishna could have lifted the Govardhan mountain on his own, but he showed team work when he asked cowherds to put their sticks along with his small finger to lift it.”

He said the media will not have any interest in Varanasi as they believe Modi has won from this seat just as in cricket, there is no money (ratings) if there is no India-Pakistan match.

“You are so unfortunate that your candidate will fill his form and run away. But the candidate is so fortunate that each voter considers himself the candidate,” Modi said.

He maintained that after elections, political pundits will have to wreck their heads why they are seeing a wave against anti-incumbency.

He said each polling booth incharge should ensure that the BJP flag is not lowered at his booth and reiterated the slogan, “Mera booth, sabse mazboot”.