Congress fields Ajai Rai against Modi in Varanasi

Congress has finally chosen the candidate who would take on BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate Modi in Varanasi. No, the grand old party did not select any ‘heavyweight’ candidate against Modi, but has filed local leader Ajai Rai against Modi in this ancient temple city in India.

When asked why Congress chose Ajai Rai instead of strong leaders like Digvijaya Singh or Rashid Alvi, the defense Congress gave was that Rai being a local was aware of the problems of Varanasi.

“Congress has taken a comprehensive view of things and fielded a grassroot worker from Varanasi vis-a-vis the BJP candidate. Ajai Rai is well aware of the local problems in Varanasi. This decision has been taken by the consultation of Sonia Gandhi,” Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said.

A former BJP-man Ajai Rai is a five-time MLA and left the party when he was denied a ticket in 2009. He joined SP and fought election against BJP’s Murli Manohar Joshi and lost badly. He later joined Congress.

It seems Congress party has given walk-over to Arvind Kejriwal of AAP to take on Modi in Varanasi constituency.

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