PM Narendra Modi’s Varanasi blitz aims at 2019 and not just March 11, 2017

Modi's 3-day stay in Varanasi and high-octane campaign for 40 assembly seats has more to do with Lok Sabha polls in 2019 than the ongoing UP polls.

Ahead of the final phase of the high-stake Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections 2017, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched an unprecedented campaign with mega road shows and scathing attacks on opponents that turned the ancient Varanasi into a battleground.

Akhilesh-Rahul also hit the streets of Varanasi showing their strength to the people. But that was no match for the grandeur of Modi show.

While it seems, the 3-day blitz for only 40 assembly seats that will be voting on March 8 is an overkill for a prime minister of over 1.25 billion people, then Varanasi is his parliamentary constituency which he won with the massive mandate against all opponents including his bête noire and current Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal.

The final push for Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections from Varanasi will have a lasting impact on people of the holy city and its surrounding. The UP polls is an open game as of now and outcome of 40 seats may or may not impact big but Varanasi blitz will consolidate the BJP’s position in eastern part of the most populous state that sends 80 Lok Sabha members. After demonetisation and over two years of incumbency, this mega show in his own constituency has given Prime Minister Narendra Modi an opportunity to re-energise his party cadre and get them ready for the big battle in 2019.

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Modi’s 3-day stay in Varanasi and high-octane campaign for 40 assembly seats has more to do with Lok Sabha polls in 2019 than the ongoing UP polls. Nonetheless, with all media attention, it will impact the last phase.

But questions remain. Why would a PM camp in a constituency for Assembly elections for 2 nights and 3 days? What makes him stick to Varanasi in the last phase of Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections? Is there more to this than just the Assembly elections? From what it seems, this is bigger. The big game for next Lok Sabha polls will be played out from the ancient city. And, this is the beginning of the campaign for that big battle the BJP will fight hard to remain unchallenged. (For full election coverage CLICK HERE)

However, with Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party and Rahul Gandhi-led Congress coming together, not only the ongoing Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections is a tough nut to crack but the next Lok Sabha polls also wouldn’t remain an easy game for NDA alliance which won 73 out of 80 seats. One should also not rule out social engineering expert Mayawati. She couldn’t win a single Lok Sabha seat 2014 and is expected to redraw her elections plank after the current elections results. So, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s show of strength in Varanasi has everything to do with the next big game rather than the last phase of UP polls.

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