Modi set for record victory in Varanasi

Varanasi, May 16 (IANS) BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi is set to win the Lok Sabha election from Varanasi by more than three lakh votes, officials said Friday.

While he polled more than 5.16 lakh votes, his nearest rival and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Arvind Kejriwal had polled 1.80 lakh votes at the last count.

Election officials said Modi had taken an unassailable lead.

Earlier, Kejriwal conceded defeat in Varanasi and said he was disappointed with the results.

He, however, said that his connect with the people of Varanasi would continue.

"I have got great love from the people of Kashi and my relationship with them will continue for many, many years," a visibly upset Kejriwal told reporters.

The much-hyped Congress candidate, Ajay Rai, for whom Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi held a road show May 10, fared poorly. He finished third with around 68,000 votes.

BSP's Vijay Prakash Jaiswal got 57,531 votes while Samajwadi Party's Kailash Chaurasiya polled 42,242 votes.