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Congress leader Ajay Rai: Rai commands influence in Varanasi and his active involvement in the party’s grassroots initiatives, including the Bharat Jodo and Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, aligns with Congress’s vision of engaging directly with the voters.
As India’s general elections approach, the political atmosphere for the Lok Sabha seat of Varanasi has reached a fever pitch with the announcement of Congress leader Ajay Rai’s candidacy against Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the third consecutive time.
The stage is set for a riveting contest between two seasoned contenders. Each of them has spoken of a deep-rooted connection to the ancient city of Kashi.
Ajay Rai as he went to Varanasi on Sunday (Mar 24), said, “…I am from Kashi and I am well aware of every street, house, and person in Kashi. The time will tell whether the BJP will cross 10 lakh votes or will lose by 10 lakh votes.”
When Modi, on May 14, 2014, selected Varanasi as his constituency for the first time, he referred to himself as a “Kashi vaasi” (Resident of Kashi) and conveyed an emotional message to the people.
Rai, a stalwart in Uttar Pradesh politics and the head of Congress’s state unit has now challenged Modi in his bastion.
Who is Ajay Rai?
Despite suffering defeat in the previous two electoral bouts against PM Modi, Rai’s is again throwing his hat in the ring.
Rai began his political journey with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) youth wing ABVP before traversing through the corridors of the BJP. His electoral triumphs in the UP legislative assembly elections cemented his stature within the saffron party.
He secured victory from the Kolasla constituency three times between 1996 and 2007. However, he resigned as an MLA when denied a Lok Sabha ticket from Varanasi by the BJP.
The saffron party selected veteran leader Murli Manohar Joshi as its candidate for the Lok Sabha seat from Varanasi.
Rai switched allegiance to the Samajwadi Party and continued his electoral pursuits, vying against BJP’s Murli Manohar Joshi in a closely contested battle for Varanasi’s parliamentary seat. The electorate favoured Joshi over Rai and other contenders and the then-SP leader lost. At the time, mafia don-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari had secured second place and Rai third.
Rai’s eventually joined the Congress party in 2012. Winning the Pindra seat in Varanasi bolstered his association with the party. However, electoral fortunes fluctuated, with Rai tasting defeat in 2017 state polls.
Battle with PM Modi
Rai first contested against PM Modi in 2014. However, Modi won the Varanasi Lok Sabha seat by defeating his rival SP’s Shalini Yadav. Ajay Rai secured third position with 14.38 percent vote share in comparison to PM Modi’s 63.62 percent vote share.
Rai commands influence in Varanasi and his active involvement in the party’s grassroots initiatives, including the Bharat Jodo and Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, aligns with Congress’s vision of engaging directly with the voters.
(With inputs from agencies)