Congress pins hopes on Priyanka Gandhi’s campaign

VARANASI: Priyanka Gandhi Vadra may not be contesting from Varanasi but the local Congress unit is pinning its hopes on her camping here for four-five days for Congress. The alliance candidate claims she will defeat Narendra Modi like the then PM Indira Gandhi’s defeat from Rae Bareli in 1977.

Local Congress leaders at the Maidigan office in Varanasi, speaking on the condition of anonymity, sounded dejected over the developments and some also questioned why the party had fielded Ajay Rai yet again after he had lost two elections continuously. Rai had lost the 2017 assembly election from Pindara, his stronghold constituency in Varanasi and in fact finished third here. “We are hearing that Priyanka Gandhi may come for Ajay Rai’s nomination on Monday. She may also devote 4-5 days to Varanasi for her campaign. That may infuse some energy and hope here,” a local Congress leader in Varanasi told ET.