Narendra Modi contesting from Varanasi can 'impact' 20 LS seats

New Delhi: Amidst growing demand for BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi to contest from Varanasi parliamentary constituency, the saffron party’s poll strategists feel that Mr Modi contesting from this seat will have an impact on nearly 20 Lok Sabha berths including Pratapgarh, Allahabad, Mau, Jaunpur and Ghazipur in this politically crucial state.

The party’s poll strategists are of the view that if Mr Modi contests from Varanasi, polarisation of votes along with his growing popularity will go in the BJP’s favour and will also have an effect on parliamentary seats in neighbouring state Bihar.

However, Mr Modi is yet to give a nod for contesting the Lok Sabha elections from Uttar Pradesh. Even the Allahabad unit of the party is putting pressure on the central leadership to field Mr Modi from there. Though the saffron party and Mr Modi himself has made efforts to project him as development oriented leader, Mr Modi is still considered by many as a ‘Hinduttva icon.’

Ahead of the BJP’s central election committee (CEC) meeting on Thursday, RSS top brass including chief Mohan Bhagwat reached New Delhi giving rise to speculation that BJP might announce candidates for crucial seats.