International media descends to cover Varanasi poll battle

Giving reasons for global media's interest in Varanasi, Otton said it is one of India's best-known cities internationally and the fight here has certainly more resonance for a foreign audience.

He said the number of people in Modi's roadshow before filing of nomination was “pretty striking” although that may say as much about the BJP's organisational abilities as support for him in the city.

“I imagine quite a few of those who watched the roadshow from their balconies or shop-fronts were just interested in the spectacle rather than die-hard BJP supporters.

Mind you, the sheer size of almost every aspect of India's elections is a bit of an eye-opener for outsiders,” he said.  

In the 2009 Lok Sabha elections, senior BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi had won the seat after defeating Mukhtar Ansari, who is currently in jail in a murder case, by a margin of 17,000 votes.