New Delhi: Putting an end to the speculation of Priyanka Gandhi Vadra contesting the Lok Sabha elections against Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Varanasi, Congress Thursday fielded Ajay Rai from the seat again.
Rai, considered a local strongman in Varanasi, was the Congress candidate from the seat in 2014 elections too. He is a former MLA from Pindra that falls under the Varanasi Lok Sabha constituency. In 2014 elections, Rai came third after Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and secured only 75,614 votes.
Speculation was that Priyanka would take on Modi in Varanasi as she had expressed her willingness to contest from the seat in several occasions. She had maintained if the Congress wanted her to contest from Varanasi, she would consider it. Recently, she had said if her brother and Congress president Rahul Gandhi asked her to contest from Varanasi, she would be happy to do it.
“Why not? Sanghatan ka bohat kaam hai (there is a lot of work to be done for the party). But, if the party asks I will do what they decide,” she said, responding to queries from reporters in Amethi on 27 March over whether she would contest the elections.
“If my party wants me to contest polls, I will definitely contest. My wish is to work for the party,” she had said.
Priyanka was appointed the Congress general secretary for Uttar Pradesh (east) in January. Her launch was aimed at mobilising the party in a crucial state like Uttar Pradesh that sends 80 MPs to the Parliament.
Apart from Rai, the Congress’s Central Election Committee announced Madhusudan Tiwari as the candidate from Gorakhpur.
Also read: Modi’s nomination filing a Varanasi show — temple run, Ganga aarti & display of NDA power
Much Ado about nothing. At least good sense which is rarely displayed, prevailed to avoid a shameful outcome for the
flag bearers of the dynastic lineage. The spring bird was a horrible mismatch for her rival as strong as PM. Her withdrawal from contesting poll from Varanasi is in anticipation of probable humiliating defeat. In that eventuality she would have lost her moral courage to face election in future. It is face saving gain. How long can she sell her intentionally groomed grand-mom look alike feature and befool the gullible voters of this country ?
A good decision from the Congress party managers. Why waste Ace card for a ‘literally’ joker. Fielding Rai shows what importance Congress party gives to a Chaiwala. More over if Chowkidar Chaiwala is just one number as a MP then why waste time and energy against him? Is it not good idea to foucs on seats which are easy to handle and conqure?
The kid brother runs away from North to South. The elder sister runs away from the contest. If this is the courage shown by the dynasty, how demotivating it would be for the party and its supporters, including hagiographers in the media.
With Robber at home, Priyanka lost whatever little credibility that she had due to her facial similarities to Indira. One way this is good to keep herself away from the polls, esp Varanasi as she might even lose her deposit
Congress should sit out the elections and maybe think about registering itself as an NGO. That role suits them better.
This way they can continue to espouse liberal and center left policies, to the extent allowed by the 56 inch leader and his blog writers. And they can then more easily avoid getting their hands dirty in any meaningful political dueling with their chief opposition party, which is cash rich and willing to go for broke every second of the day, disregarding rule of law and proprieties in pursuit of power.
On so momentous a decision, the party should have decided long ago.
Pindra does not come under the Varanasi Lok Sabha constituency….