The Varanasi poll map: BJP fights it out with BSP in city, alliance with Apna Dal is key

The adjoining graph denotes how different areas of Varanasi voted in 2009. The seat has acquired importance with BJP PM candidate Narendra Modi contesting it. Among those opposing him are Congress’ Ajai Rai and AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal. Each circle in the graph represents a polling centre. The color of each circle represents the party which received highest number of votes at each location.

Bigger the circle, the more votes received. BJP’s Murli Manohar Joshi received major support in the city of Varanasi, though he faced a tough fight even here from BSP, represented then by Mukhtar Ansari. In rural assembly segments (left on the graph), the fight was closer and BJP’s performance fell sharply. BJP lost two assembly segments to BSP and SP, respectively. It was only because of his performance in the city Joshi could scrape through, with a winning margin of 2.6%.