Rajnath files nomination for Lucknow seat

Lucknow: Union Home minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday filed his nomination papers for the Lucknow Lok Sabha seat after holding a roadshow in the Uttar Pradesh capital, where BJP supporters turned up in large numbers and showered flower petals on him.

Accompanied by Uttar Pradesh BJP chief Mahendra Nath Pandey, Deputy Chief Minister Dinesh Sharma and former Union minister Kalraj Mishra, Singh submitted his election affidavit to Lucknow District Magistrate Kaushal Raj Sharma. Earlier in the day, Singh took out a roadshow which passed through Hazratganj, one of the arterial roads in the capital city, where BJP workers turned up to show their support to the leader.

Hazratganj sported a floral look as BJP supporters showered flower petals on Singh as he led the roadshow on his way to file nomination papers.

Seeking a second term in the Lok Sabha from Lucknow, Singh, who was accompanied by senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders in a special vehicle, stopped to offer prayers at the Dakshinmukhi Hanuman temple in Hazratganj, before the procession moved on. The home minister also offered prayers at the famous Hanuman Setu temple here before embarking on the roadshow.

Addressing the party workers at the state BJP headquarters here before the roadshow, Singh said, "India has surged ahead under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the entire world has acknowledged the fact that Modi has done wonders to help the country attain great heights". "I have toured 10 states and the attraction towards Modi is amazing. The entire country wants to see him re-elected as the prime minister," he said. Heavy security arrangements were put in place for Singh's roadshow.