Kejriwal says will contest against Modi in Varanasi

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Press Trust of India Varanasi
Last Updated : Mar 25 2014 | 7:31 PM IST
Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal today announced that he will contest from Varanasi, taking on BJP Narendra Modi whom he accused of being an "agent" of industrial houses along with Rahul Gandhi.
Kejriwal, who had declared earlier that he would contest against Modi from wherever he is fielded, announced his decision at a rally here after seeking the views of his supporters in his typical style.
"I want to ask you whether I should contest from Varanasi against Narendra Modi. I am ready to accept this challenge," the former Delhi Chief Minister announced after a day-long road show in this constituency of Uttar Pradesh.
"Why do I want to contest from Varanasi, it is because at a time when leaders look for safe seats to fight elections, I take on them to defeat them," he added.
Attacking Modi, Kejriwal said that a myth about Modi having developed Gujarat was being perpetuated by a section of media while in reality the BJP leader was gifting away farmers' land to industrialists and followed policies which were against small businessmen.
Kejriwal appealed to people to ensure that Modi loses from Varanasi and Rahul Gandhi gets defeated from Amethi so that both the NDA and the UPA receive a jolt.
"These are both armies -- one named UPA and another named NDA. While Rahul Gandhi is the 'shahenshah' (emperor) of the UPA, Modi is the same for NDA. If you defeat both Rahul and Modi, then these armies will automatically be crushed," he said.
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First Published: Mar 25 2014 | 7:31 PM IST

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