He filed the papers after conducting a road show in the city.
Among those who proposed his nomination were Madan Mohan Malaviya's grandson Giridhar Malaviya, Padma Vibhushan awardee Chhandu Lal Mishra, boatman Virbhadra Nishad and Ashok, from the dominant weaver community.
Talking to reporters before filing his papers, Modi said he felt "Mother Ganges" has called him to contest from this constituency,
"...Earlier I used to think that the BJP has sent me here, sometimes I felt that I am going to Kashi. But after coming here, I feel neither has anybody sent me nor have I come on my own. It is mother Ganga who has called me.
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He vowed to make Kashi a spiritual capital of the world.
"God... Give me strength, so that I can work for the city, for my poor weaver brothers...So that Kashi can become a spiritual capital of the world," Modi said.
The BJP leader sought to project common links between his birthplace in Vadnagar in Gujarat and Varanasi, saying both were pilgrim centres for worshippers of Lord Shiva.