Election wrap: PM Modi files nomination from Varanasi, Amit Shah on abrogation of Article 370 and more

PM Narendra Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi filed his nomination papers for the Varanasi parliamentary seat on Tuesday in the presence of senior leaders of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), saying he would continue to work for the all-round development and welfare of people with new energy.

Here are the other top political developments of the day:

PM Modi files nomination from Varanasi after offering prayers at holy ghat

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday filed his Lok Sabha nomination papers from Varanasi - his constituency for the last 10 years - after offering prayers at the holy Dashashwamedh Ghat on the banks of the Ganga.

In a grand show of strength, PM Modi was accompanied by several NDA leaders and chief ministers of NDA-ruled states. Varanasi will vote on June 1 in the seventh and final phase of the ongoing Lok Sabha elections.
Ahead of filing his nomination, PM Modi posted on X about his relationship with Kashi: "My relationship with Kashi is amazing, inseparable, and incomparable... all I can say is that it cannot be expressed in words!"

-Opposition made me popular by trying to spoil my image, says PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the Opposition had made him popular by abusing him.

PM Modi was speaking in an exclusive interview with News18. Speaking about how he deals with the constant attacks by the Opposition, the PM said, “The Opposition has made me bigger by abusing me. Otherwise, who knew me?”. The PM said he firmly believed if there were not so many criticisms from the Opposition, then he would not have been so popular.

“The opposition thought that by abusing me they will break the institution and the ideology. But they forgot that by doing so they made me bigger,” said the PM.

He also said he has moved beyond these criticisms and has enjoyed it.

On being asked if PM Modi wins 400 seats, what will the Opposition do, the PM said he wants the Opposition to become stronger.

-'His aides beat me so badly ...': Andhra voter who slapped MLA back says he fears for his family

Gottumukkala Sudhakar, the Andhra Pradesh voter who was thrashed by YSR Congress MLA Sivakumar and his aides during voting on May 13, has said that he fears for the safety of his family members.

In a video that went viral on Monday, MLA Sivakumar can be seen slapping Sudhakar when he objected to the legislator jumping the queue at a polling booth in Guntur district.

Sudhakar retaliates and slaps the MLA back but is soon overpowered by his supporters and thrashed brutally. Many people standing in the queue tried to intervene when the aides of the MLA thrashed the voter.

Congress leader Manish Tewari files nomination from Chandigarh

Congress candidate from the Chandigarh parliamentary constituency Manish Tewari on Tuesday filed his nomination papers.

He was accompanied by the party's Chandigarh unit president HS Lucky and other leaders.
Tewari is pitted against BJP candidate Sanjay Tandon from the lone Lok Sabha seat in the Union Territory.

"Filed my nomination papers from Chandigarh. I seek your blessings and support in this fight to save our democracy and bring prosperity to our City Beautiful," said the former Union minister in a post on X.

Abrogation of Article 370 showing result in J&K's poll percentage, says Amit Shah

The Narendra Modi government's decision to abrogate Article 370 is showing results in the poll percentage in Jammu and Kashmir and has enhanced people's trust in democracy, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Tuesday.

The home minister's remarks came a day after about 38 per cent polling was recorded in the Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency where polling was held in the 4th phase of the general elections.

Srinagar recorded 14.43 per cent polling in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, 25.86 per cent in 2014, 25.55 per cent in 2009 and 18.57 per cent in 2004.

"The Modi government's decision to abrogate Article 370 is showing results in the poll percentage as well. It has enhanced people's trust in democracy and its roots have deepened in Jammu and Kashmir," he wrote on 'X'.