New Delhi: Even as the Congress has fielded Madhusudhan Mistry from Vadodara, there is still no decision on who to pit against Bharatiya Janata Party Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi in Varanasi. Senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh has said that he is willing to take on Modi in Varanasi.
Initially, Anand Sharma too showed interest in fighting from Varanasi. However, sources say Congress may also field local leader Ajay Rai who allegedly has the support of more than 1 lakh voters against Modi.
While a final decision from the Congress on the Varanasi candidate is awaited, Finance Minister P Chidambaram said that the Congress will field a strong candidate against Modi from the temple town.
Meanwhile, Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal has already upped the ante by announcing his candidature from Varanasi against Modi.
Kejriwal, who defeated three-time Delhi Chief Minister Shiela Dikshit with over 25,000 votes in the 2013 Assembly elections, declared that he would contest the Lok Sabha elections against Modi from Varanasi seat in Uttar Pradesh. Kejriwal made the announcement at a rally in Varanasi's Benia Bagh and hit out at both the BJP and Congress. He accused both the parties of being hand-in-glove in looting the country.
Kejriwal challenged Modi to a debate with him over development claims in Gujarat. "I challenge Modi to come and do a debate with me. I am ready to fight elections against Modi, but I don't have any money. I will come to you to collect money."
Kejriwal will continue to campaign in Varanasi for a second day on Wednesday. It will be interesting to see whether the Congress will put some prominent face from Varanasi or will leave Kejriwal to take on Modi by fielding an underdog.
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