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India's ruling Congress party Thursday complained to the independent Election Commission against main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)'s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi's road show in the holy city of Varanasi, after being apparently rattled by the huge turnout.
"The Congress has complained to the Election Commission that in the 117 constituencies in which voting is being held today, Narendra Modi's road show was telecast live on all TV channels. This violated the model code of conduct and influenced voters," Indian Commerce Minister and Congress leader Anand Sharma said.
Local TV channels showed live footage of Modi's road show in Varanasi, the world's oldest living city, thronged by millions of people, some of whom even climbed over the rooftop of residential houses, just to have a glimpse of the 63-year-old three-time Gujarat state chief minister.
Modi held the two km procession a couple of hours ahead of filing his nomination papers to contest the ongoing general elections from Varanasi -- his second parliamentary seat, the first being Vadodara in his home state of Gujarat in the west.
"I feel as if the BJP has not sent me here... but Ma Ganga ( Mother Ganges, the holy river of the Hindus) has summoned me. I pray for strength so that I can serve this city," he told the crowd which consisted not only of his supporters but also local residents.
India's anti-graft Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal is contesting the general elections against Modi from the holy city of Varanasi.
The general elections, which began on April 7, will end on May 12, with results due on May 16.
Opinion polls have suggested that the BJP is going to form the next government with Modi as the prime minister, as the Congress party is facing its worst-ever defeat due to its inability to tackle corruption and inflation.
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Thursday dismisses any Narendra Modi wave in this country, saying it's a creation of the media.
"I don't think the country as a whole is struck by any Modi wave. It is a creation of the media," the Indian Prime Minister said, after casting his ballot in the northeastern state of Assam in the sixth of the nine-phase general elections.
Singh is not running for the top post this time, after being the Prime Minister for two consecutive five-year terms, as the ruling Congress party is being led by Nehru-Gandhi scion Rahul Gandhi.
