Elections 2014: Expectations from Narendra Modi run high in the holy city

Varanasi: The day BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate filed his nomination Varanasi had turned saffron. Days after, doubts began to surface. “Will he make Varanasi his home or return to Vadodara?” is the question being asked by the people, who were swayed by the “Modi tsunami.”

While BJP workers have been asked to convey to the electorate that BJP PM candidate Narendra Modi “will never abandon” them, the leaders, however, refused to commit on the issue when asked by this newspaper. Despite doubts, Mr Modi continues to remain the main attraction for the voters of this temple city.

“Modi dil lelin (Modi has won hearts),” said Sanjay Sonkar, a fruit vendor outside the Benaras Hindu University main gate, which Mr Modi had visited before embarking on his roadshow. He said, “The country’s future PM had bowed to the people of Varanasi".

Many in this parliamentary constituency describe Mr Modi as the ray of hope as the “earlier one” (senior BJP leader M.M. Joshi) had “abandoned” the city. They feel Mr Modi will usher in development and create job opportunities.

For the city youth, Mr Modi can “definitely” create job opportunities and bring industries in this city because “that is what he has done in Gujarat.” They feel Mr Modi can implement the “Gujarat model” in the city. If Mr Modi wins Varanasi, which he is expected to, he will have to live with expectations he created.