Amid a show of unity by the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) alliance partners, prime minister Narendra Modi on Friday filed his nomination papers from Varanasi Lok Sabha seat.
Modi, who was a sitting MP from the seat, would be taking on Congress' Ajai Rai and the grand alliance nominee Shalini Yadav.
If Thursday's mega roadshow in Varanasi by Modi was aimed at showcasing his party's strength in the temple town, his nomination was intended to display unity among the various alliance partners of NDA, who were present on the occasion.
The prime minister paid obeisance at the historic 'Kal Bhairav' temple before proceeding to the collectorate to file his nomination papers. 'Kal Bhairav' is considered to be the 'Kotwal' of Varanasi and according to the Hindu mythology his permission was necessary for doing any thin new.
Among Modi's proposers were an old Jansangh worker Subhash Gupta, scientist Ramashankar Patel, former principal of BHU Women's College Annapurna Shukla and a member of the former Dom' king of Varanasi Jagadish Chaudhary.
The prime minister touched the feet of Annapurna Shukla before filing his nomination papers.
Several senior NDA leaders including Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar, Assam chief minister Sarvanand Sonwal, BJP national president Amit Shah, SAD leader Prakash Singh Badal, Shiv Sena chief Udhav Thackerey, AIADMK leader Paneer Selvam and Lok Janshakti Party leader Ram Vilas Paswan were present on this occasion.
Modi thanked the people of Varanasi after filing the nomination papers and appealed to the people to vote in large numbers. He also heaped praise on the people of the temple town for turning up in huge numbers during his roadshow on Thursday.
''Only the people of Kashi (Varanasi's old name) can hold roadshow for 12-15 hours,'' he remarked while speaking to reporters.