Congress fields local MLA Ajay Rai against Modi in Varanasi

Rai, the MLA from Kolasla in Varanasi, was a BJP member before he joined the Congress in the last Assembly polls. Some however had pointed out to Rai's changing loyalities, he has been with the BJP, Samajwadi party before joining ranks with the Congress. The Bhumihars constitute alteast 1.5 lakh of the population in Varanasi.

Significantly, the party had zeroed in upon Rai earlier but stopped short of announcing his name after Modi's candidature was announced claiming that they too would be fielding a heavyweight. However ground realities kicked in hindsight.

Surjewala added that Ajay Rai had fought several electoral battles from the area and was the choice of both the local partyworkers and party leaders. A local candidate the Congress emphasised would have a better understanding of the local problems here.

After Congress' Noida candidate Ramesh Chand Tomar deserted the party and joined the BJP, leaving the Congress red in the face, party insiders say a wary Congress high command extracted a commitment from Tomar that he would not defect the party mid-way.

For the Congress, the fight has become symbolic with the party appealing to all secular forces to support their candidate. This time around, the fight in Varanasi has become all the more captivating, as Aam Aadmi Party's Arvind Kejriwal has thrown his hat in the ring.