#1 Varanasi turns into fortress for the blockbuster battle
The temple town has turned into a fortress with over 45,000 security personnel being deployed to ensure free and fair polls tomorrow in the city where two of most talked about politicians – BJP's Narendra Modi and Arvind Kejriwal of Aam Aadmi Party -- are locked in a high-stake contest.
#2 Is Arvind Kejriwal giving Narendra Modi a tough time in Varanasi?
Two ambitious men have stamped their presence on the holy city of Varanasi over the past two months in their own way. The biggest difference between the two campaigns has been the money power.
#3 Have caste lines blurred in Varanasi poll before Lok Sabha Elections?
As Varanasi votes Monday, traditional caste lines seem to have blurred and loyalties changed. With nearly 17 lakh voters as per figures of the local administration, Varanasi has a dominant Hindu population. According to an official in the district magistrate's office, there are nearly three lakh Muslims, and nearly an equal number of three lakh Brahmins.
#4 Should Arvind Kejriwal have chosen Vadodara to contest Lok Sabha polls, not Varanasi
AAP’s or Arvind Kejriwal’s political advisor should be sacked immediately. They advised him to run away from governance and power in Delhi. They advised him not to capitalise on the serious dent he created in Modi’s Gujarat government. They never taught him the ‘chakravyuh’ concept of Indian politics.
#5 In Varanasi, it's about weaver, river, poll fever
For once, there is more politics than spirituality, or so it seems, in Varanasi, reputedly the most ancient living city on earth. All around there is frenetic political activity. The deafening campaign for Monday's Lok Sabha election ended Saturday evening after all political players gave a final push in the sweltering heat.
#6 Overheard from Varanasi: Political conversations from the streets
Is the scene in Varanasi going to be as vibrant as our news room in Noida? Are there people talking about these nitty-gritties in Kashi too? The whole world has set its eye on the political match in India, but how serious are we in giving direction to one of the most high-pitched, defining elections in the history of India?
#7 Who will Muslims vote for in Varanasi? Muslims groups are divided between AAP and Congress
While many secularists are banking on the consolidation of 15.09% Muslim votes in Varanasi against BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, two main Muslim groups Jammat-e-Islami (JEI) and Jammiat-e-Ulema-e-Hind (JUH) are pulling the community in different directions. The former has come up with an appeal backing the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) supremo Arvind Kejriwal, while the latter is rooting for the Congress candidate Ajay Rai.
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