No Priyanka-PM contest in Varanasi, Cong fields Ajay Rai again from LS seat

No Priyanka-PM contest in Varanasi, Cong fields Ajay Rai again from LS seat

Putting to rest all speculations over Congress leader and AICC General Secretary for Uttar Pradesh east Priyanka Gandhi Vadra contesting from Varanasi, the Congress on Thursday fielded Ajay Rai from the Lok Sabha seat from where Prime Minister Narendra Modi is contesting.

The party fielded Ajay Rai again from the parliamentary constituency.

He had contested from the seat against Mr Modi in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections and come on the third position.

According to a list of two candidates, cleared by the Central election committee of the Congress and released by All India Congress Committee General Secretary Mukul Wasnik, ‘The party has fielded Ajay Rai from Varanasi Lok Sabha seat and Madhusudan Tiwari from Gorakhpur Lok Sabha seat.’

This announcement ends all speculations over Priyanka Gandhi Vadra contesting from Varanasi parliamentary constituency.

Ever since the appointment of Ms Priyanka Gandhi Vadra as the AICC general secretary for Uttar Pradesh east, speculations have been rife that she would be contesting the Lok Sabha elections.

Over the last one month there have been speculations that she could contest from Varanasi against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

On her part, Priyanka has expressed her willingness to contest from the Lok Sabha seat if the party high command wishes. However, the announcement of Ajay Rai from the seat puts to rest all such speculations. With Thursday’s list, Congress party has now announced its candidates from 424 Lok Sabha seats.