Ready to take on 'outsider' Modi in Varanasi: Cong's Rajesh Mishra

Mishra alleged that the holy town has been held "captive" by BJP by fielding "outsiders" from the constituency so far including M M Joshi

With Narendra Modi's possible candidacy bringing the contest in Varanasi into spotlight, Congress ticket aspirant Rajesh Mishra says he is raring to give a "good" fight to the "outsider" if the party high command gives him the go ahead.

Mishra, who represented the seat from 2004 to 2009, said that he has "no problem" in facing the BJP Prime Ministerial candidate in the polls.

Mishra alleged that the holy town has been held "captive" by BJP by fielding "outsiders" from the constituency so far including Joshi. Mishra had finished fourth in the last polls as the election had become a tussle between Joshi and Mukhtar Ansari of the BSP.

Claiming that Joshi had failed to resolve the problems faced by the local people, Mishra said that the BJP veteran hardly visited the constituency which is replete with civic problems due to a growing population.

Mishra attributed his loss to the election taking a communal colour.

Another local leader Ajai Rai is also an aspirant for the Congress ticket and a decision is pending. Rai, who quit Samajwadi Party to join Congress, had come third in the last election.

Mishra says that in the 16-lakh strong electorate, there are four lakh Muslims, three lakh brahmins and almost an equal number of Vaishyas.

The Congress high command has so far not taken a decision on the seat and is waiting for the BJP to reveal its cards.

In 2004, Mishra had convincingly beat his BJP rival Shankar Prasad Jaiswal in a multi-cornered contest.