Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in his parliamentary constituency Varanasi on Saturday to launch the BJP's countrywide membership drive.

"At around 11:30 this morning, I will address the programme in Varanasi marking the launch of @BJP4India’s Membership Drive. During my speech, I will elaborate on my thoughts on the Budget and India’s growth trajectory in the coming years. Do watch." Modi tweeted in the morning. 

He arrived in Varanasi around 11 pm and was received by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, BJP working president JP Nadda and state unit chief and Union minister Mahendra Nath Pandey at the Babatpur airport. 

Soon after his arrival, he inaugurates a statue of former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri at Varanasi airport. The airport on the outskirts of Varanasi is named after Shastri.

He also met members of the Shastri family including senior Congress leader Anil Shastri. 

Earlier on Friday, Modi said the membership drive will "further connect people from all walks of life with the BJP family." 

"On the Jayanti of our inspiration, Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee, the @BJP4India Membership Drive will begin. I will be joining the programme in Kashi to mark the same. This drive will further connect people from all walks of life with the BJP family. It will strengthen our party," he tweeted. 

"The drive will further connect people from all walks of life with the BJP family. It will strengthen our party," Modi added. 

"On the Jayanti of our inspiration, Dr. Shyama Prasad Mookerjee, BJP's membership drive will begin. I will be joining the programme in Kashi to mark the same," he said.

Modi will address around 5,000 party workers at Deendayal Upadhyaya Trade Facilitation Centre in Bada Lalpur, where he will launch the membership drive and facilitate some of the party workers.

It is Modi's second visit to the constituency after winning the Lok Sabha elections. PM Modi had visited his constituency on May 27 to thank people for keeping faith in his government.

Sharing the details of the BJP's membership drive, its vice-president Shivraj Singh Chouhan said the party has set a target of adding minimum 20 per cent more workers in its current strength through this drive, which will conclude on August 11.

Anyone can become a member by giving a missed call on a mobile number or by filing a form, Chouhan said in a statement.

Defense Minister Rajnath Singh will participate in the BJP's membership drive programme in Jaipur, BJP chief and Home Minister Amit Shah in Hyderabad and Union Road Minister Nitin Gadkari in Nagpur.

(With PTI inputs)