28 May,2024 12:25 PM IST | Uttar Pradesh | mid-day online correspondent
Akhilesh Yadav and Rahul Gandhi during the yatra. Pic/X
Union Minister Giriraj Singh made fun of Samajwadi Party Chief Akhilesh Yadav and Congressman Rahul Gandhi, stating that the latter would be singing once the Lok Sabha election results are announced on June 4 while the former will be taking a holiday abroad.
Speaking to ANI in Varanasi on Monday, Singh said, "In the sixth phase, we are about to touch the 400 mark and in the seventh phase, we will be crossing the 400 mark and that day, Akhilesh Yadav will be singing songs and Rahul Gandhi will go for his foreign trips as no option will be left for them. This country wants a strong government, not a compelled government."
Talking about developmental works done in Varanasi during PM's tenure, Singh said, "Varanasi is the land of Kashi and whoever comes here is only at the orders of Baba Vishwanath. PM Modi is contesting elections from here... Only development has been given importance. The development done by PM Modi is being discussed...".
"People are enthusiastic. Only development has been given importance. The development done by PM Modi is being discussed...". said Giriraj Singh.
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Notably, PM Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party are based in Varanasi. The most eagerly awaited contest in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections is this one. The constituency was decisively won by PM Modi in both the 2014 and 2019 general elections. Ajay Rai is facing off against PM Modi in the Congress. Rai is the joint candidate of the Opposition INDIA group against the Prime Minister.
In the 2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the Congress fielded Rai, the leader of the UP Congress, against the PM in Varanasi; nonetheless, he came in third place both times. Ajay Rai will take on Modi in a Lok Sabha election for the third time.
In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, PM Modi won the seat with over 6,74,664 votes and commanded a vote share of 63.6 per cent. In 2014, Varanasi Lok Sabha constituency witnessed a clash between Narendra Modi, then the BJP's prime ministerial candidate and AAP chief and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.
The margin of victory for PM Modi exceeded three lakh votes. Prime Minister Modi ran for two Lok Sabha seats in 2014; Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, and Vadodara, Gujarat.
(With Inputs from ANI)