March 4: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today told Varanasi how he had been stopped from holding a rally in his parliamentary constituency during the 2014 general election. But he seemed to have forgotten a few awkward details.

"Local Election Commission officials didn't let me address a rally after I had filed my nomination papers," Modi said during his 35-minute speech at Varanasi's Town Hall after concluding a road show.

"They first gave permission but then cancelled the order under some kind of pressure. It was since then that I have (repeatedly) wanted to meet the people of Kashi (Varanasi)."

The district administration had denied permission for a rally in Beniyabagh on May 8, 2014, fearing law-and-order problems in the densely populated Muslim neighbourhood.

District officials had cited how a BJP rally in Beniyabagh on May 18, 1991 - a few days before a Lok Sabha election - had led to large-scale violence, leaving nine people dead and 150 houses torched.

"I'm a law-abiding citizen; I didn't resist (the revocation of permission for the rally)," Modi said.

Many senior BJP politicians, however, had held sit-in protests at various parts of the city against the administration's move.

Returning to the subject of the ongoing state elections, Modi said: "I had told my party that we would win (the Assembly seats) from here even if I didn't visit the city. But I wished to meet the people in the capacity of their MP."

Sources said the Sangh had alerted the BJP that it wouldn't be a cakewalk in Varanasi because many local party leaders and workers were unhappy with some of the candidates.

"I too am a small worker of the party. I'll be back tomorrow and stay the night. I shall meet the party workers tomorrow," Modi said.

He told his audience his government had sanctioned Rs 600 crore for underground cabling of electrical wires, Rs 1,050 crore for highways and Rs 34 crore for street repairs in Varanasi.

The Prime Minister blamed the Akhilesh Yadav government for the delay in implementation of many of the projects.

"We have earmarked Rs 500 crore for solid waste management," Modi said, adding that the state government seemed uninterested.

"We'll cleanse Uttar Pradesh of them (the Samajwadi Party) on March 8 (when Varanasi votes)."