VIP Varanasi: PM Modi's Unmatched Influence In BJP's Political Citadel And Cultural Epicentre
Varanasi, culturally referred to as Kashi, holds significance as a place of spiritual liberation, or moksha. The holy city is a rich tapestry of sounds, sights, and smells that evoke a deep spiritual resonance. Varanasi is associated more closely with Lord Shiva in comparison to other Hindu Gods, most importantly the other two in the Triumvirate, Lord Vishnu and Lord Brahma.
Varanasi is also the Lok Sabha constituency of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, underlining its political significance. Historically a stronghold of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Varanasi gained heightened attention during the 2014 elections when it witnessed a high-stakes contest between Narendra Modi and the emerging political figure Arvind Kejriwal, the founder of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), then a political start-up.
The AAP chief, who had formed a government in Delhi the previous year, was trying to make a mark on the national stage with the Varanasi fight opposite the BJP’s prime ministerial face. The battle ended with Narendra Modi winning with a margin of over 3 lakh votes, whereas Kejriwal got the support of over 2 lakh people.
Recent developments in the politically charged Uttar Pradesh, which has 80 Lok Sabha seats, including the inauguration of the Ram temple, the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor, and the court-permitted puja in the cellar of the Gyanvapi mosque, have revitalised the city”s atmosphere.
Geographically situated at the midpoint of Uttar Pradesh, Varanasi holds strategic importance in state politics, particularly in the eastern UP and Poorvanchal regions, which collectively wield considerable electoral influence.
Comprising five assembly seats, Varanasi embodies one of India”s holiest cities, steeped in millennia of tradition. Over the years, political dynamics have seen a tug-of-war between the BJP and the Congress. PM Modi has retained the seat seven times and the Congress six since 1957. The BJP has maintained a near-perfect record since 1991, losing only once to the Congress in 2004.
Varanasi has witnessed electoral battles featuring two Prime Ministers, Narendra Modi and former PM Chandra Shekhar, who won the seat in 1977 by a stunning 47.9% margin. Varanasi is among one of Uttar Pradesh”s 11 constituencies never won by the Samajwadi Party or the Bahujan Samaj Party.
Before PM Modi”s arrival, the Varanasi seat was held by BJP stalwart Murli Manohar Joshi. The party”s strategic decision to field Narendra Modi in 2014 was aimed at consolidating power in Uttar Pradesh and influencing neighboring Bihar, which sends 40 MPs to the Lok Sabha.
In 2019, PM Modi secured a resounding victory over the Samajwadi Party”s Shalini Yadav with an impressive margin of over 4.7 lakh votes.
Varanasi”s demographic makeup reflects its diverse social fabric, with Hindus constituting 75% of the population, followed by Muslims at 20%, and other religious communities comprising the remaining 5%. The constituency boasts a 65% urban population juxtaposed with 35% rural inhabitants. Scheduled Tribes account for 10.1% of the populace, while Scheduled Castes make up 0.7%.
The trajectory of winning candidates” vote shares has witnessed fluctuations over the years. The BJP clinched victory with a 33.4% vote share in 1999, followed by the Congress with 32.6% in 2004. In 2009, Murli Manohar Joshi won with a 30.5% vote share, which surged significantly to 56.4% for Narendra Modi in 2014, escalating further to 63.6% in 2019.
Under PM Modi”s leadership, Varanasi has experienced substantial development, epitomised by initiatives such as the Kashi Vishwanath Temple corridor project.
The BJP is unwavering in its determination to secure a landslide victory for PM Modi this time as well. To counter the influence of key opposition figures like Akhilesh Yadav and Tejashwi Yadav, leading the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar respectively, the BJP has appointed Mohan Yadav in Madhya Pradesh.
With Varanasi allocated to the Congress in its seat-sharing agreement with the Samajwadi Party for 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Avinash Pandey, Congress”s general secretary in-charge of Uttar Pradesh, emphasises the ideological significance of the contest.
“It’s an ideological battle in Varanasi. We know it’s tough but then it’s symbolic and sends a clear message to the people as well as party workers,” Pandey said.
In the 2019 elections, Congress leader Ajay Rai secured 14.38% of the votes, while the SP emerged as the runner-up with 18.40%. In 2014, when Arvind Kejriwal contested against Narendra Modi, Ajay Rai finished third with a mere 66386 votes. The BJP garnered 56.37%, while AAP secured 20.30% of the votes.
In the 2009 elections, as the SP nominee, Ajay Rai garnered 18.61% of the votes, with BSP”s Mukhtar Ansari emerging as the runner-up with 27.94% against the BJP”s Dr Murli Manohar Joshi, who secured 32.50% of the votes.
