Narendra Modi's older brother Somabhai Damodar Modi, issued a statement this morning explaining that their family had married him off as a child, but he walked away because he wanted to serve the country.

"What happened 45-50 years ago should be seen in context with the circumstances of a poor and superstitious family," Somabhai Modi said, urging Indians to vote for his brother.

Narendra Modi has for the first time declared himself as a married man by revealing his wife's name as Jashodaben in an affidavit filed before the Election Commission.

In an affidavit submitted along with his nomination papers filed on Wednesday for the Vadodara Lok Sabha seat, the 63-year-old Gujarat Chief Minister stated that he is married.

So far, Modi used to leave the column of spouse which is to be filled in an affidavit as blank. He had kept the column as blank in 2012 Assembly elections as well.

Also read: Narendra Modi's brother never wanted him to join politics