Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Varanasi for the first time since he took charge in May. (AFP photo)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will on Friday visit his Lok Sabha constituency of Varanasi for the first time since he took charge in May. He is expected to adopt a village under the MP Model Village Scheme.
Jayapur village, 24 kilometres away from the ancient temple town of Varanasi, hopes to be picked and is prepping to receive Mr Modi, who is scheduled to make a public address there.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav of the Samajwadi Party will be in Varanasi to welcome the Prime Minister.
Tight security arrangements have been made. PM Modi will be in his constituency for a little over 24 hours.
Among the oldest cities in the world, Varanasi has been constantly in the spotlight ever since PM Modi chose to retain this Uttar Pradesh constituency and gave up the other seat he had won in the national elections - Vadodara in his home state of Gujarat.
Residents in the town hope its new VIP profile will ensure that its crumbling infrastructure and lack of basic amenities will be addressed.
Soon after the Bharatiya Janata Party won the Lok Sabha elections in May, Mr Modi had made a thanksgiving visit to the city; he had offered prayers at the famous Kashi Vishwanath temple and had taken part in the Ganga Aarti.
Tomorrow, he is also expected to inaugurate several projects including one to uplift the lot of weavers in Varanasi.