Modi arrives in Varanasi,pays tributes to Madan Mohan Malviya

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi arrived in Varanasi on Thursday to file his nomination for contesting electionsand paid tribute to Madan Mohan Malviya.

Media reports indicated that a retired judge, a boatman, a weaver and a singer would be proposing Modi's nomination in Varanasi.

Among those who will propose his name are retired Allahabad High Court judge Justice Giridhar Malaviya, the grandson of Madan Mohan Malaviya, who was a noted educationist and a four-time president of the Indian National Congress.

Modi's other proposers include Chhandu Lal Mishra, a noted classical singer of Varanasi and a Padma Vibhushan recipient, boatman Virbhadra Nishad and Ashok, who represents the dominant weaver community, BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad was quoted, as saying.

Modi is facing electoral challenges from Arvind Kejriwal of the Aam Aadmi Party, Ajai Rai of the Congress and candidates of the Bahujan Samaj Party, the Samajwadi Party and Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress.