Modi in Varanasi: Union minister Upendra Kushwaha opposes PM's roadshow, terms it inapropriate

Union minister Upendra Kushwaha said on Saturday that Prime Minister Narendra Modi shouldn't' have held a road show in Varanasi as the BJP is already in the pole position in the ongoing assembly elections in politically-prized Uttar Pradesh.

Modi held a roadshow in the holy city and also addressed BJP workers later in the evening. 

However, his cabinet minister was of the opinion that the Prime Minister should not indulge himself in such events during the assembly elections as it is not appropriate for his high-profile office and he should address rallies only. 

Read | PM Modi's roadshow in Varanasi: Saffron sea as thousands throng on streets

"I will like to tell my friends in the BJP that it is not appropriate for a Prime Minister to hold a road show. It is proper for a PM to hold rallies but not a road show," Kushwaha, who is the chief of the Rashtriya Lok Samta Party, a BJP ally, said in a statement.

Read | UP polls 2017 : PM Modi leads roadshow in Varanasi, prays at historic temples 

His comments hinted at unease between the BJP and some of its junior partners and sources said discontent is not limited to the Bihar-based party. 

Kushwaha's party was keen on contesting a few seats in Uttar Pradesh as a BJP ally and had joined hands with some small parties in the state after the saffron party ignored its wish. He, however, claimed he withdrew from the contest on the request of Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah.

(With inputs from PTI)