PM Modi addresses 50,000 women at Mahila Sammelan in Varanasi
Synopsis
With 50,000 women gathered in his own constituency and Muslim attendees visibly present, PM Modi's Varanasi Mahila Sammelan was more than a routine outreach — it was a carefully staged display of cross-community support, centred on the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam and the BJP's deepening focus on women as a decisive electoral bloc.
Key Takeaways
PM Narendra Modi addressed approximately 50,000 women at the Mahila Sammelan in Varanasi on 28 April 2025 .
BJP National President Nitin Nabin , UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath , and State BJP President Pankaj Chaudhary were present at the event.
Women from the Muslim community also participated, with attendee Huma Bano calling the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam a historic decision.
Elaborate cooling arrangements, including fountains , were set up to manage the large crowd amid Uttar Pradesh's hot weather.
The event is part of Modi's two-day visit to Varanasi and is seen as a major outreach to women voters and central scheme beneficiaries.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday, 28 April participated in a grand Mahila Sammelan in Varanasi, his parliamentary constituency, where he addressed a gathering of approximately 50,000 women. The large-scale outreach event is being seen as a significant push to highlight the central government's women-centric schemes and policies ahead of upcoming electoral cycles.
Key Leaders Present
The event drew several senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders, including the party's National President Nitin Nabin, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, and State BJP President Pankaj Chaudhary. Their presence underscored the political weight the party has attached to the Sammelan, which is part of Prime Minister Modi's two-day visit to Varanasi.
Diverse Turnout and Community Participation
The Sammelan witnessed an overwhelming response, with women arriving in large numbers from across the region. Notably, women from the Muslim community were also seen participating actively, reflecting a diverse cross-section of attendees. Attendee Huma Bano told IANS that a significant number of Muslim women had come to the event, and described the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam as a historic decision by the Centre, stressing the need for its effective implementation. Another attendee, Lubina, said women from different communities were enthusiastic about participating and listening to the Prime Minister.
What Attendees Said
Several women expressed appreciation for the government's work on safety and empowerment. "We are very excited. The Prime Minister has done a lot for women," said one attendee. Another remarked, "I thank Prime Minister Modi. There was a time when women were afraid to step out of their homes, but now things have changed." Abu Faizal, who described himself as a long-time supporter of Modi, claimed to have attended more than 175 rallies across the country, including in Assam and West Bengal, and expressed confidence that the BJP would form the government in West Bengal under Modi's leadership.
Logistics and Comfort Arrangements
Given the prevailing hot weather conditions across Uttar Pradesh, elaborate arrangements were made at the venue to ensure the comfort of attendees. Cooling measures, including fountains and other facilities, were installed to provide relief to the large crowd. Organisers had clearly anticipated the scale of the turnout and prepared accordingly.
Political and Policy Significance
The Mahila Sammelan is being widely viewed as a major political and social outreach programme, with the government focusing on women voters and beneficiaries of various central schemes. This comes amid a broader pattern of the BJP using constituency-level mass events to consolidate support among women, a demographic that has grown increasingly central to the party's electoral strategy. The Varanasi event is the latest in a series of such gatherings that have drawn large crowds across BJP-governed states. All eyes will now be on the specific policy announcements, if any, that emerge from Prime Minister Modi's address.
Point of View
Visible diversity, and a policy hook in the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam. What is worth watching is whether the event translates into tangible implementation timelines for the women's reservation law, which has been passed but not yet operationalised. The presence of Muslim women attendees will be highlighted by the party, but the more substantive question is whether outreach events of this scale are accompanied by measurable improvements in women's safety and economic participation in Uttar Pradesh — metrics on which the state's record remains uneven.
NationPress
1 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Mahila Sammelan held in Varanasi on 28 April 2025?
It is a large women's outreach event organised in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's parliamentary constituency Varanasi, where he addressed approximately 50,000 women. The event focused on the government's women-centric schemes and policies.
Which leaders attended the Varanasi Mahila Sammelan?
Senior BJP leaders including National President Nitin Nabin, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, and State BJP President Pankaj Chaudhary attended the event alongside Prime Minister Modi.
What is the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam mentioned at the event?
The Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam is a women's reservation law passed by the Central government that reserves a share of seats in legislatures for women. Attendee Huma Bano described it as a historic decision and called for its effective implementation.
Why did Muslim women attend the Mahila Sammelan?
According to attendees who spoke to IANS, women from the Muslim community were enthusiastic about participating and listening to the Prime Minister. Attendee Huma Bano noted that a significant number of Muslim women had come to the Sammelan.
What arrangements were made for the large crowd at the Varanasi event?
Given the hot weather conditions in Uttar Pradesh, organisers installed cooling measures including fountains and other facilities at the venue to ensure the comfort of the approximately 50,000 attendees.
