Prime Minister Modi is a two-time Lok Sabha MP from Uttar Pradesh’s Varanasi (File).
New Delhi:
The INDIA opposition bloc is contemplating a listing of political superstars to problem Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his Lok Sabha constituency of Uttar Pradesh’s Varanasi, sources advised NDTV Wednesday, a day after the group met in Delhi to debate the thorny topic of seat-sharing.
Varanasi has voted for the BJP in each election since 1991 (aside from 2004) and despatched Mr Modi to the Lok Sabha in 2014 and 2019, the second time with a mandate in extra of 60 per cent.
The Congress held the temple city for a decade from 1952 however solely intermittently since, and the INDIA bloc faces an almost unattainable process in wresting the seat from the Prime Minister’s grasp.
Sources have advised NDTV two names have been proposed up to now – Bihar Chief Minister and Janata Dal (United) boss Nitish Kumar, and Congress Common Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.
Nitish Kumar
Nitish Kumar is a one-time ally of the BJP (and now one in every of its fiercest rivals) and one of many bloc’s founding leaders. He has additionally been talked up as a possible PM candidate, which he has denied.
He was additionally talked up for that function forward of the 2014 election, when he was allied with the BJP.
Earlier this week posters showing to again him in that function have been seen in Patna earlier than INDIA’s assembly.
The JDU denied any hyperlink to the posters however celebration spokesperson Neeraj Kumar appeared to up stress on INDIA, declaring ”a political which means could be derived from it”.
READ | Problem Nitish Kumar To Contest In opposition to PM In Varanasi: BJP Chief
That ”political which means” appeared to not be evident on the INDIA meet, the place Congress boss Mallikarjun Kharge was pitched as a possible PM candidate. Nitish Kumar and Rashtriya Janata Dal patriarch Lalu Prasad Yadav, his state alliance companion, left instantly after the meet concluded.
READ | Kharge As INDIA PM Face? Mamata Banerjee, Arvind Kejriwal’s Shock Pitch
Mr Kharge dismissed that and insisted he desires to first concentrate on profitable the election.
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, in the meantime, has by no means contested an election. There was hypothesis she would in 2019 – curiously sufficient the discuss was about Varanasi and a showdown with the PM – however the Congress fielded Ajay Rai once more, who completed third and over 5 lakh votes behind the PM.
READ | Priyanka Gandhi Vadra Will not Contest From Varanasi, Say Congress Sources
4 years in the past Ms Gandhi Vadra, who has stated she stands able to make her electoral debut each time the celebration decides, quipped ”why not” when requested if she would contest from Varanasi.
READ | ”Why Not Varanasi”: Priyanka Gandhi Vadra On Request To Battle Polls
This time, studies point out her title was proposed by Trinamool chief Mamata Banerjee, who additionally instructed Mr Kharge as a attainable PM candidate for INDIA.
Earlier this 12 months too there was buzz Ms Gandhi Vadra could be fielded from Varanasi; Shiv Sena (Thackeray faction) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi stated she anticipated her colleague to win if she did so.
Arvind Kejriwal?
A 3rd possibility for INDIA might be Aam Aadmi Occasion boss Arvind Kejriwal.
The Delhi Chief Minister has truly up in opposition to the Prime Minister in Varanasi as soon as earlier than – in 2014. Mr Kejriwal completed second, polling just a little over two lakh votes and round 20 per cent of the votes.
It’s value repeating that whoever does contest in opposition to the Prime Minister – assuming INDIA can agree a standard candidate – faces a troublesome task. The BJP’s formidable election-winning equipment was on present final month after it swept Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh.
In every occasion the celebration selected to not discipline a chief ministerial candidate, and even name on a financial institution of state leaders, and ran as an alternative with the Prime Minister because the face of its marketing campaign. The technique reaped massive dividends, underlying the power of the ”Modi issue” forward of subsequent 12 months’s election.
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