Narendra Modi to file nomination from Varanasi on April 24 after 'grand road show'

VARANASI: BJP is making hectic preparations ahead of tomorrow's nomination by Narendra Modi, who will undertake a "grand road show" before filing his papers for the mega battle in this holy city where he is challenged by AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal and others. Modi's campaign managers said lakhs of people are expected to participate in the two-km-long road show from Nadesar to Kacheri locality in the heart of the city during which a number of leading local organisations will greet him.

He will also pay tribute to four doyens- Sardar Patel, Vivekananda, B R Ambedkar and Madan Mohan Malvya- before filing nomination, in-charge of BJP's campaign in Varanasi Ashok Dhawan told PTI. Though invited all sections of people to the road show, the party has specifically requested the citizens from Punjab, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal, residing here, to come in their traditional attire.

"They have been requested to come in their traditional attire so that a mini-India can be presented in the road show," said Navratan Rathi, a BJP leader who is coordinating arrangements.

Modi will arrive at Lal Bahadur Shastri airport tomorrow morning from where he will go to Benaras Hindu University campus by helicopter to pay tribute to Pandit Madan Mohan Malvya at his statue in the Lanka crossing, said Rathi. Then he will go to Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapeeth, one of the premier educational institutions here, where he will garland the statute of Sardar Ballabh Bhai Patel and start his road show.

The Gujarat Chief Minister has been highlighting contribution of Patel to attack Congress and had laid the foundation stone for a huge statue of Patel last year in Kevadia area of Gujarat. Rathi said Modi will also pay tribute to Vivekanada and Amebdkar at their statues in the Cantonment area and Collectorate Square respectively, Rathi said.

Another function has been organised where the Gujarat Chief Minister will be offered blessings by over 100 priests. BJP units in all the 90 wards in the city have been told to carry out procession from their respective wards to reach the venue of the road show.