An honour to contest from Varanasi, tweets Modi

New Delhi: As soon as the Bharatiya Janata Party announced its prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi's candidature from Varanasi, Modi said it's an honour to contest from here.

Modi tweeted, "I am grateful to the party for giving me opportunity to contest the election from the holy city of Varanasi! An honour to contest from Varanasi. With blessings of Ganga Mata and Kashi Vishwanath, let us work towards success of Mission272+ and create a strong, vibrant and prosperous India."

The BJP made the announcement in its fourth list of candidates. Varanasi is represented by senior party leader and former party president Murli Manohar Joshi who has been given a Lok Sabha ticket from Kanpur. Although Joshi had expressed his reluctance in giving up his seat, the party's Central Election Committee (CEC) overruled all the objections.

Former IPS officer Kiran Bedi who has been openly backing Modi, tweeted, "NaMo from Benaras. UP's destiny changes. If UP changes India changes! This portends very well for India's future! Happy Holi!"

She added, "#MyVoteForModi UP destined to give India its strongest PM. Changing every Indian's destiny! Good governance returns through sound leadership."