UP Polls: Akhilesh feels Modi’s Varanasi roadshow will be flop show

Varanasi goes to polls in the last phase on March 8. While the BJP hopes that PM’s roadshow will woo the voters of his Lok Sabha constituency, Akhilesh Yadav feels the show of strength will fail. 

“Ek roadshow kiya, wo fail ho gaya. Ek aur karne ja rahe hain, wo bhi fail hoga, phir ek aur karenge. Ab roadshow karte karte kahin aur nikal jayenge . (A roadshow was done. It failed. He is doing one more. It will also fail and then again a roadshow will be held. Now he will go somewhere else by doing his roadshow),” said Akhilesh while addressing a poll rally in UP’s Sonebhadra. 

The Prime Minister first flew from the airport to the police lines in a special Indian Air Force chopper. A number of local BJP leaders greeted PM Modi at the helipad and presented him bouquets. 

PM Modi then made his way in a bulletproof car in a convoy to the Pandeypur area, from where the 5-km road show commenced. Thousands of supporters thronged the route along which PM Modi went. 

Carrying BJP flags and shouting ‘Jai Shri Ram’ and ‘Har Har Modi, Ghar Ghar Modi’, they waved at Modi, who acknowledged their greetings and waved back at them.  Political analysts feel PM Modi’s aggressive campaign may help the BJP in Varanasi, where the party faces stiff challenge from the SP-Congress combine. 

Factors like consolidation of opposition votes and well-entrenched rival candidates against BJP’s perceived fumbling in picking its nominees have come together to make contests close in this high-profile seat.