Opposition parties slammed BJP for equating Modi with Lord Shiva, whose capital is supposed to be Varanasi.
Shankracharya Swaroopanand Saraswati rang up Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat and aired his disapproval of the slogan after which the BJP said the slogan was not its official one.
It said that the official slogan is "Abki Baar, Modi Sarkaar" (This time, Modi government).
Modi too late Sunday tweeted requesting party workers and supporters not to use the slogan that has triggered a row.
