PM Narendra Modi resigns from Vadodara LS seat, retains Varanasi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday resigned from Vadodara Lok Sabha seat, choosing to retain Varanasi Lok Sabha constituency.

In a series of tweets, Modi thanked the people of Vadodara for electing him by a historic margin.

"Resigned from Vadodara LS seat. Due to people's affection got elected by historic margin. Will always remain grateful to people of Vadodara," Modi tweeted on micro-blogging site Twitter.

He further tweeted, "I assure people of Vadodara I will leave no stone unturned in ensuring that Vadodara's development scales newer heights in the years to come." BJP had won all the 26 Lok Sabha seats in Gujarat.

Earlier, Modi had resigned as MLA from Maninagar Assembly seat in Ahmedabad and the post of Chief Minister of Gujarat on May 21. Anandiben Patel was sworn in as Gujarat Chief Minister on May 22.

Modi also said that he would represent Varanasi in Lok Sabha. In retaining Varanasi, the BJP signalled that it had its eyes set firmly on 2017 Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh. Retaining Varanasi seat is also being seen as a gratitude to a state, which was crucial to BJP forming the government at the Centre.

"I will represent Varanasi in Lok Sabha and I look forward to this wonderful opportunity to serve Ganga Maa and work for Varanasi’s development," he tweeted.

Modi had won Vadodara Lok Sabha seat by a margin of 5.70 lakh votes, garnering 845,464 votes from the urban constituency. In Varanasi, which had witnessed a three-pronged contest with Modi, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convener Arvind Kejriwal and Congress' Ajay Rai in fray, Modi emerged triumphant by 3.71 lakh votes.

Rules state that a member who has been elected from two Lok Sabha constituencies has to vacate one of the seats within 14 days of the declaration of result. With Lok Sabha results out on May 16, the deadline was to expire on Friday.