Varanasi's Day of Roadshows

Uttar Pradesh state Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, center, waves at supporters during an election campaign rally in Varanasi in support of Samajwadi Party's candidate from Varanasi Kailash Chaurasia.

Rahul Gandhi, wearing a Nehru topi in Congress colours, stood in a crowded open jeep and waved to the people of Varanasi as he began his tit-for-tat roadshow from the Gol Gadda area.

Rahul Gandhi is accompanied by Senior Congress leaders like Ghulam Nabi Azad, Mukul Wasnik and Rashid Alvi, on his Varanasi roadshow.

On the last day of campaigning in Varanasi, Rahul Gandhi is here to seek votes for Ajai Rai, the local leader his party has fielded against Narendra Modi, the BJP's prime ministerial candidate.

Crowds of people waving the Congress flag gathered since early morning, at Gol Gadda from where Rahul Gandhi began his 11-km journey.

India's Congress Party Vice President Rahul Gandhi drinks from a bottle as he rides atop a truck while making his way through the streets of Varanasi on the final day of campaigning.

The Congress has chosen Gol Gadda as the starting point for Rahul Gandhi's roadshow, with an eye on the large Muslim presence in the area. The Congress and AAP's Arvind Kejriwal are fighting for the attention of Muslims, who make up for about 15 per cent of Varanasi's population.

The streets are packed with people waving Congress flags and many more have come out on to the terraces of houses to catch a glimpse of the 43-year-old Congress Vice-President.

Shehnai Maestro Bismillah Khan's kins join Rahul Gandhi's roadshow and play a popular bhajan Raghupati Raghav. The family later denies any allegiance to a particular political party.

Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi's cavalcade approaches the statue of Madan Mohan Malviya at Lanka Chowk in Varanasi.

Rahul Gandhi concludes his roadshow at Lanka Chowk after garlanding the statue of Madan Mohan Malviya.

Rahul Gandhi chose to end his roadshow in Varanasi by paying his respects to the Hindu Nationalist leader and Founder of Benaras Hindu University - Madan Mohan Malviya. BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi had begun his roadshow in a similar fashion when he was in Varanasi to file his nomination, a few weeks ago.