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Nothing deterred redoubtable Kejriwal and his company, as they greeted protesters back with a smile or a wave of hand.
After a holy dip in the Ganga in front of a legion of television crews, the former chief minister sought blessings at Kaal Bhairav and Kashi Vishwanath temples.
Little did the locals on the streets expect that while on their way to the places of work or worship, do they find Kejriwal greeting them.
Around 700-800 volunteers welcomed Kejriwal at the city railway station early morning.
At the Kaal Bhairav temple, one Madan Lal Yadav, along with other tourists, was pleased to have the darshan of the AAP convenor.
AAP caps flooded the streets, as the narrow bylanes of Varanasi wore the look of a crowded Delhi thoroughfare.
Anand Kumar, an AAP leader hailing from Varanasi, was seen canvassing votes for the jhadu.
AAP volunteers from various states converged in the holy city to witness the most anticipated rally, where he was supposed to declare his candidature.
One such volunteer, Sharayu, who came with 25 others from Mumbai, said she could not afford to miss “this big decision”.
A stranger to Varanasi, the party did find a lot of enthusiasm among the citizens. Many thronged the streets and some leaned from the balconies of their houses to catch a glimpse of the man of moment. But people were not quite amused with the new party.
“We need to analyse them before making a decision to vote,” said Abdul Jabbar, a teacher waiting outside the Kashi Vishwanath temple.
The journey was not so easy for them, as Modi chants too accompanied them along the road.
But, for Gaurav Singh, a Delhi volunteer, “protest is a crucial element in a democracy”.
Policemen, who were deployed along the route in large numbers, had a tough time handling the traffic, protesters and jeeps and SUVs of Kejriwal and company.
At Tulsi Ghat, Kejriwal took a dip in the Ganga and voiced his concerns over the “polluted river”.
The three-km roadshow from Town Hall to the rally venue — Benia Bagh was the show stealer. Thousands of volunteers milled around their leader, shouting slogans.
However, the locals are yet to form an opinion about the new entrant. “Bhajpa ayegi Bhajpa (BJP will come),” said Dhiren Yadav, a shopkeeper.
However, two things were missing here: Har Har Modi, Ghar Ghar Modi slogan and a positive public response that the AAP had got in the December elections in Delhi.
