KASHI’S TRYST WITH POLLING: SUN, SELFIES & SADHUS
VARANASI : Braving the sun, residents of Kashi turned out in their Sunday best to cast their vote in the seventh phase of polling here as Varanasi recorded a polling percentage of 58.05, which was marginally lower than the 2014 figure of 58.35%. The polling was peaceful in the city.
Long queues were seen at the polling booths since morning and enthusiasm ran high among first-time voters who clicked selfies at selfie points at the polling centres. Swami Shivanand, a 123-year-old monk, was the cynosure of all eyes as he cast his vote. He later said he wanted a strong government at the Centre. Many other sadhus, including Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati of Sri Vidya Mutt, also exercised their franchise. At the ghats, people were heard discussing the possible election results. “The alliance is contesting well, the results will be amazing,” said Bablu Yadav, a voter.
Raju Rai a trader, said, “Wait for the poll results. There is no need to get into arguments. Everything would be clear then.”Rai also said the UP BJP was not in as bad a position as many were predicting. The BJP would spring a surprise, he said.
Murali Gupta, another voter, said the result of the Varanasi parliamentary seat, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi is in the fray, is quite predictable. Uttar Pradesh minister Neelkanth Tiwari, divisional commissioner Deepak Agarwal, inspector general of police Vijay Singh Meena, district magistrate Surendra Singh and his wife, chief development officer Gaurang Rathi and his wife and senior superintendent of police Anand Kulkarni and his wife were among those who cast their votes.