Narendra Modi won Varanasi in 2024, but by a far smaller margin than the landslide some expected. In an excerpt from Reclaiming Bharat: What Changed in 2024 and What Lies Ahead, author Ashutosh argues that stronger opposition support, the Congress–Samajwadi Party alliance and residents’ unease about changes to the city help explain the result. His account offers a political interpretation, not a study measuring how much each factor affected votes.
What happened in Varanasi in 2024?
Ashutosh’s excerpt, published by Scroll on May 1, 2025, reports that Modi received 612,970 votes and Congress candidate Ajay Rai received 460,457, giving Modi a margin of 152,513. The figures here are those reported in the excerpt; they have not been independently checked against an official election result record.
The result was striking in the context of campaign expectations. Ashutosh writes that the BJP hoped for a margin exceeding ten lakh and cites the slogan “Abki baar, 10 lakh paar.” That is the passage’s account of expectations, not evidence of a formal party commitment.
How did Ajay Rai’s support change?
The excerpt presents Rai’s rising vote total as one sign of the stronger challenge to Modi. It reports these results for Rai across three elections:
#1 Best Overall
- Read Before You Buy — No Video Output: These adapters support charging and USB 2.0 data transfer, but cannot transmit video signals. Except for standard USB webcams (which use USB data only), they are not compatible with HDMI/DisplayPort cables, video-capable USB-C hubs, or docking stations with video output.
- Convert USB-A Ports to USB-C: Designed to connect USB-C earphones, cables, flash drives, card readers, and other USB-C accessories to standard USB-A ports. Plug-and-play with no drivers or software required.
- Aluminum Alloy Housing: Built with a sturdy aluminum alloy shell that aids in heat dissipation and protects against daily wear and scratches. Designed to maintain a stable and secure connection.
- Compact & Travel-Friendly: The ultra-compact design allows the adapter to stay plugged into your device without blocking adjacent ports or adding bulk, reducing wear and tear on your original USB ports.
- 12-Month Warranty: Backed by a 12-month manufacturer warranty for peace of mind. Designed to meet strict quality control standards for reliable everyday performance.
| Election year | Votes reported for Ajay Rai | Vote share reported |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 75,614 | 7.34% |
| 2019 | 152,548 | 14.38% |
| 2024 | 460,457 | 40.74% |
These totals and shares are attributed to Ashutosh’s excerpt, rather than presented as independently verified figures. The author also reports that Modi’s 2024 vote total was 61,694 lower than in 2019.
What explanations does Ashutosh offer?
A stronger opposition alliance
Ashutosh points to the Congress–Samajwadi Party alliance’s stronger performance in Uttar Pradesh and to Rai’s increased support in Varanasi. The account treats those developments as part of the explanation for the closer contest, but it does not isolate their effect on the result.
Rank #2
- 5-in-1 USB-C Hub: Experience comprehensive connectivity featuring a Power Delivery input, two USB-A 2.0 ports, a USB-A 3.0 port, and an HDMI port. (Note: The USB-C power delivery input port is only for connecting an external wall charger to power your laptop and cannot power peripheral devices.)
- 90W Pass-Through Charging: Achieve optimal charging with 90W pass-through power to your laptop, supported by a total input of 100W, with the hub reserving 10W for operational efficiency. (Note: Wall charger not included.)
- Quick Data Transfers: Accelerate your productivity with rapid data transfers using a high-speed 5Gbps USB 3.0 port and two 480Mbps USB 2.0 ports.
- 4K HDMI Display: Enhance your visual experience with a hub capable of delivering 4K resolution at 30Hz in both mirror and extend modes. Please note that this hub is compatible with MacBook (macOS 12 and newer), Windows 10 and 11, ChromeOS, and laptops equipped with DP Alt Mode and Power Delivery. Note: This device is not compatible with Linux.
- What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (5-in-1, 4K HDMI), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.
Intensive BJP campaigning
The excerpt also describes extensive BJP mobilization and campaign activity by senior leaders in Varanasi. Ashutosh’s point is that the contest drew substantial effort even as the margin fell short of the level the party reportedly hoped to achieve.
Unease about modernization and the city’s identity
Ashutosh argues that some residents were dissatisfied with modernization they felt had changed Varanasi’s character. He discusses projects such as the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor, widened roads, cleaner ghats and an airport highway. The excerpt reports roughly Rs 48,000 crore in projects sanctioned and about Rs 41,000 crore spent over a decade, but does not identify the underlying project or accounting records for those sums.
Recommended Free Tools
Rank #3
- Sleek 7-in-1 USB-C Hub: Features an HDMI port, two USB-A 3.0 ports, and a USB-C data port, each providing 5Gbps transfer speeds. It also includes a USB-C PD input port for charging up to 100W and dual SD and TF card slots, all in a compact design.
- Flawless 4K@60Hz Video with HDMI: Delivers exceptional clarity and smoothness with its 4K@60Hz HDMI port, making it ideal for high-definition presentations and entertainment. (Note: Only the HDMI port supports video projection; the USB-C port is for data transfer only.)
- Double Up on Efficiency: The two USB-A 3.0 ports and a USB-C port support a fast 5Gbps data rate, significantly boosting your transfer speeds and improving productivity.
- Fast and Reliable 85W Charging: Offers high-capacity, speedy charging for laptops up to 85W, so you spend less time tethered to an outlet and more time being productive.
- What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (7-in-1), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.
This is the author’s interpretation of how development and local identity may have figured in the election. The excerpt does not provide survey evidence showing how widespread those views were or how they translated into votes.
What the excerpt establishes—and what it does not
Ashutosh’s account frames the result as a surprise: Varanasi had been treated as an easy win, with attention focused more on the size of Modi’s margin than on whether he would win. The excerpt brings together reported vote figures, the opposition alliance, campaigning and perceived changes to the city as possible parts of the story.
Rank #4
- Dual Converters, Infinite Potential：Includes 2× USB C male to USB A female adapters and 2× USB A male to USB C female adapters. Perfect for a wide range of uses—tablets with Bluetooth keyboards, expand USB ports on macbook, and more. Two different converters for all your daily needs
- Next-Level 10Gbps & 3A Charging: No more slow 480Mbps, this usb to usb c adapter has a transfer speed of up to 10Gbps, allowing you to do more transferring in less time. This usb adapter fits both USB A and USB C charger, supporting up to 3A fast charging
- Upgraded Exquisite Craftsmanship: With an aluminum alloy housing and metal connector, the usbc to usb adapter is extremely durable and sturdy. Rigorously tested to withstand more than 10,000 times of plugging and unplugging, ensuring long-lasting performance
- Broad Compatible: The usb c to usb adapter widely supports all USB C/ USB A devices like laptops, tablets, cellphones, car chargers, and phone chargers. Such as compatible with MacBook Pro/Air 2023/2022, Thunderbolt 4/3 Devices,Apple MagSafe Watch 9/8/7/SE/Ultra, iPad Pro 2022/2021, Samsung Galaxy S23/S20/S10, and iPhone 17/16/15 Pro. Plug and play
- Please Note: To reach 10Gbps speed, keep the cable under 3.3 ft. For USB A Male to USB C adapters, try flipping the USB C connector. USB C Male to USB A adapters support bidirectional 10Gbps transfer within 3.3 ft
- It reports election totals, vote shares and campaign context, but those figures are not independently verified here against official records.
- It advances explanations for the narrower margin but does not use survey evidence or a causal research design to determine how much each factor mattered.
- It reports project-spending figures without identifying their underlying accounting source.
The distinction matters: the excerpt is useful as a political argument about what changed in Varanasi, but it cannot by itself establish which factor drove a particular number of votes.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Which book is the excerpt from?
The passage is from Reclaiming Bharat: What Changed in 2024 and What Lies Ahead by Ashutosh, published by Westland. Its focus is the gap between expectations of a sweeping victory and Modi’s reported margin in Varanasi. The excerpt also attributes a June 11, 2024 statement to Rahul Gandhi: “Had my sister [Priyanka] contested the Varanasi seat, the prime minister would have been defeated by 2 to 3 lakh votes.” That is a hypothetical political claim, not evidence of what a different candidate would have achieved.
Best Value
- 5-in-1 Connectivity: Equipped with a 4K HDMI port, a 5 Gbps USB-C data port, two 5 Gbps USB-A ports, and a USB C 100W PD-IN port. Note: The USB C 100W PD-IN port supports only charging and does not support data transfer devices such as headphones or speakers.
- Powerful Pass-Through Charging: Supports up to 85W pass-through charging so you can power up your laptop while you use the hub. Note: Pass-through charging requires a charger (not included). Note: To achieve full power for iPad, we recommend using a 45W wall charger.
- Transfer Files in Seconds: Move files to and from your laptop at speeds of up to 5 Gbps via the USB-C and USB-A data ports. Note: The USB C 5Gbps Data port does not support video output.
- HD Display: Connect to the HDMI port to stream or mirror content to an external monitor in resolutions of up to 4K@30Hz. Note: The USB-C ports do not support video output.
- What You Get: Anker 332 USB-C Hub (5-in-1), welcome guide, our worry-free 18-month warranty, and friendly customer service.
Read the Scroll excerpt by Ashutosh, published May 1, 2025.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
