New Delhi: The Congress on Thursday cleared the candidature of Ajay Rai in the Varanasi Lok Sabha constituency, putting at rest speculation that General Secretary Priyanka Vadra may be fielded there to take on Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Ajay Rai had contested and lost his security deposit against Modi in 2014.
“Though it was clear from the beginning itself that the Congress party was not serious about Priyanka’s candidature but she herself had indicated that she intends to fight against prime minister Modi but after assessing the ground situation, it was officially announced that Ajay Rai would be fielded again,” said an analyst.
The Congress also announced Madhusdan Tiwari as its candidate from Gorakhpur.