Last Updated:
The prime minister had pledged to transform Kashi into the spiritual capital of the world, embodying its sacred legacy while rejuvenating its identity as a global center of faith and culture
“Dus saal pehle aap humko Banaras ka sansad banaila, ab 10 saal baad Banaras humke Banarasi bana de leb”— these words, spoken in the Banarasi dialect by Prime Minister Narendra Modi early this year, were far more than a speech for the people; they carried the weight of affection, respect, and a shared journey of 10 long years.
As the year comes to a close, the people of Varanasi look back with pride on 2024, which was marked by progress and the celebration of a decade of having Modi as their MP. During PM Modi’s regime as a Kashi MP, projects worth Rs 44,000 crore were sanctioned for the spiritual capital.
“It is not the Kashi it was a decade ago. It’s Modi’s Kashi. I believe that PM Modi has justified his words ‘Kashi Ka Beta’. In the last 10 years, Kashi has witnessed overall development and PM Modi was the man behind it. These 10 years were perhaps the most progressive years in the history of Kashi,” said Raj Kumar Das, a local who hails from Varanasi.
Kashi’s Rs 44,000-crore transformation began soon after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) fielded PM Modi from the Varanasi parliamentary constituency in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls. “Initially, I thought the BJP sent me here, but now I feel I was neither sent, nor self-driven; Maa Ganga called me,” said Modi earlier, while comparing his arrival to a child returning to a mother’s embrace. Modi pledged to transform Kashi into the spiritual capital of the world, embodying its sacred legacy while rejuvenating its identity as a global center of faith and culture.
But why was Modi fielded from Kashi? Varanasi-based political observer Arun Mishra said BJP’s decision to field Modi in the 2014 polls was a strategic political move that transformed the constituency into a focal point of national politics.
“I believe that this decision stemmed following the lacklustre response in the Poorvanchal region, spanning Gorakhpur in the north to Varanasi in the south. However, by choosing Varanasi, a city of immense spiritual and cultural significance, as Modi’s battleground, the BJP sought to tap into its symbolic appeal to Hindus nationwide,” said Mishra.
Mishra said the move was also aimed at countering the regional dominance of parties like the Samajwadi Party (SP) and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) while energising the BJP’s grassroots network. Modi’s campaign promised development, infrastructure revitalisation, and a vision to make Varanasi the spiritual capital of the world. The decision proved transformative, as Modi’s candidature not only secured a landslide victory in Varanasi but also helped the BJP make significant inroads in Purvanchal.
A winning streak
In the 2014 polls, the Varanasi constituency witnessed a monumental contest, reflecting the sweeping political wave across India. Modi emerged victorious, securing 581,022 votes with a commanding vote share of 56.37 per cent. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), represented by Arvind Kejriwal, made a significant debut, finishing second with 209,238 votes and a 20.30 per cent share. Ajay Rai of the Indian National Congress (INC) garnered 75,614 votes (7.34 per cent), while BSP candidate Vijay Prakash Jaiswal obtained 60,579 votes (5.88 per cent). SP fielded Kailash Chaurasiya, who received 45,291 votes (4.39 per cent).
The trend continued in the year 2019 and 2024. In 2019 Lok Sabha polls, Modi received 674,664 votes, accounting for a remarkable 63.62 per cent of the total vote share, reflecting a 7.25 per cent increase from his 2014 performance. The Samajwadi Party, represented by Shalini Yadav, emerged as the runner-up, securing 195,159 votes with an 18.40 per cent vote share. Congress candidate Ajay Rai managed to garner 152,548 votes, translating to 14.38 per cent of the vote share.
In 2024, PM Modi retained his seat, securing 612,970 votes (54.24 per cent), a 9.38 per cent drop from 2019. Congress’s Ajay Rai surged dramatically, amassing 460,457 votes (40.74 per cent), a significant 26.36 per cent increase, signaling a resurgence for the party. BSP’s Athar Jamal Lari garnered 33,766 votes (2.99 per cent).
10 Years Of Development
UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has referred to PM Modi’s 10 years as record-breaking when it comes to development.
“Today, the entire world is seeing Kashi in a new avatar. Over the past 10 years, projects worth Rs 44,000 crore were approved in Kashi alone, of which projects worth Rs 34,000 crore have been completed and projects worth more than Rs 10,000 crore are under construction,” said Adityanath, while speaking at the inaugural ceremony of the newly constructed sports complex at Sigra, Varanasi, in October 2024.
Kashi’s transformative journey
One of the most iconic projects is the Kashi Vishwanath Dham, a grand corridor connecting the sacred Kashi Vishwanath Temple with the Ganga River. This Rs 900 crore project has revitalised the temple precinct, offering spacious walkways, modern amenities, and a heritage-rich experience to millions of pilgrims annually. Not only this, infrastructure in Varanasi has expanded significantly.
Officials with the district administration said the city’s area has grown from 10 km to 25 km in the last 15 years, with widened roads, improved transport networks, and state-of-the-art hospitals enhancing the quality of life. The Varanasi Ring Road, upgraded national highways, and a modernised Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport have improved connectivity and accessibility. Business activities have flourished, supported by initiatives like the Rudraksh Convention Centre, promoting cultural and economic exchanges. Environmental efforts, such as the Namami Gange project, have rejuvenated the Ganga River.
Congress questions figure
However, the Opposition called Rs 44,000 crore a ‘vague’ figure, stating that development is only on records. Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Ajay Rai, whom the party fielded against PM Modi from Varanasi in 2024, said: “Despite the claim of Rs 44,000 crore worth of development projects in Varanasi, the city has not witnessed transformative change. PM Modi has positioned himself as “son of Maa Ganga” but the persistent issue of untreated drains polluting the river remains unaddressed. Varanasi continues to grapple with unemployment, with no significant industrial setup to provide jobs in the region. Traffic congestion, a long-standing problem, has seen no effective resolution.” Rai, while talking to News18, also questioned the government’s decision to introduce ropeways, a solution typically suited for hilly terrains, instead of a metro system that could have better managed urban mobility.
However, as 2024 marks a decade of Modi’s representation of Kashi, the residents of Varanasi say their emotional connection with their MP has never been stronger.
- Location :
Varanasi, India
