Narendra Modi may keep Varanasi seat, hints Rajnath Singh

BJP president Rajnath Singh Saturday indicated that the party's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi would keep the Varanasi Lok Sabha seat if he wins from both the constituencies he was contesting from.

The Gujarat chief minister is also contesting from Vadodara in his state, and the Bharatiya Janata Party has expressed confidence that he will win from both seats. "I would urge the people to help us make Varanasi the 'karmabhoomi' of Narendra Modi," Rajnath Singh said at a press conference here.

Asked whether Modi will keep the Varanasi Lok Sabha seat, the BJP chief said: "He will not betray the trust of the people of Varanasi. It is not in his nature to betray anyone." Asked to be specific, Rajnath Singh said: "I want to tell people from both Vadodara and Varanasi, none of them will be disappointed." "The BJP president is a son of Varanasi, the prime minister is also be from Varanasi," Rajnath Singh, who was born in Chandauli in Varanasi division, added.

Party insiders earlier said Modi was likely to retain Varanasi, a seat he was confident of winning, as it will enhance his image of a pan-India leader. Referring to Varanasi, Rajnath Singh added: "We had decided after much contemplation that our prime ministerial candidate will fight from the spiritual capital of India."