Prime Minister Narendra Modi is all set to interact with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers in poll-bound Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh today (January 18). The interaction will take place virtually since the Election Commission of India (ECI) suspended all physical rallies till January 22 due to the rise in cases of COVID-19.

According to the schedule posted by Uttar Pradesh unit of the BJP on Twitter, the virtually interaction will begin at 11am.

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This will be the Prime Minister’s first interaction with the party workers after the Election Commission announced the schedule of assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh last week.

He is expected to direct the BJP workers to tell people about the welfare schemes implemented by the party in the state, according to news agency ANI.

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Challengers like the Samajwadi Party (SP) have vowed to stop its poll juggernaut while the BJP is eyeing a return to power for a second consecutive term in the state. The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and the Congress are also in the fray and released their respective list of candidates for the upcoming polls to take on the BJP.

The BJP has deployed its senior leaders, including PM Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah, for election campaigns. Both the leaders have made numerous visits to the poll-bound state in recent months to give a boost to the party’s campaign.

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Elections for the 403 Assembly constituencies in Uttar Pradesh will be held in seven phases starting February 10. The polls in the State will be held on February 10, 14, 20, 23, 27 and March 3 and 7 in seven phases. The counting of votes will take place on March 10.