Modi to file nomination in Varanasi April 24

Lucknow, April 19 (IANS) BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi will file his nomination papers from Varanasi April 24, his close aide Amit Shah announced Saturday.

Addressing his first press conference after the Election Commission (EC) lifted its gag order on him for alleged hate speeches, Shah said filing of nomination papers by the Gujarat chief minister will turn the "wave in the country for Modi into a tsunami of sorts".

Varanasi goes to poll in the final phase May 12.

The country is yearning for a change and looking towards the BJP and Modi with a lot of hope, the BJP general secretary said.

He claimed the party would sweep the first two phase of polls in Uttar Pradesh.

"Of the 21 seats for which balloting has taken place, we will win 18 seats," Shah predicted and said that they would better the previous showings in the state.

Accusing the Congress of being bankrupt on issues like inflation, price rise, corruption and internal security, Shah said in absence of any answers on such vital issues, the Congress and its leaders were indulging in personal attacks.

"People feel betrayed and cheated by the Congress-led UPA government in the last 10 years and are now in a mood for change," the former Gujarat home minister said.

He also threw a poser at Congress's candidate from Varanasi, Ajay Rai, who is accused of purchasing an AK-47 and sought to know what was the stand of Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi on the allegations.

"Did the Congress find no better candidate with a clean image against Narendra Bhai," the BJP leader asked.

On whether he felt apologetic about his hate speeches following which he was banned from campaigning by the poll panel, Shah likened it to bowling in cricket and said a bowler at times does bowl a no ball.

He also assured that in future he will ensure that he does not breach the model code of conduct.