Kejriwal Says His Fight is With Modi, Incorrect Says Congress’ Ajay Rai

Varanasi – As voting got underway in this high-profile constituency, Arvind Kejriwal, the head of the Aam Aadmi Party, declared that his is a direct fight with Narendra Modi, the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate.

Mr Kejriwal, 44, said the Congress’ Ajay Rai is not a challenger.

Mr Rai, however, dismissed these claims and said the voters of Varanasi will elect him as he is the only “son of the soil” in the contest.

Speaking to reporters outside a polling booth, Mr Kejriwal said, “How is it a triangular contest? Ajay Rai is nowhere. It is a direct contest with Narendra Modi ji. The situation has been changing in the last three days. Everyone is saying Narendra Modi ji will lose”.

Meanwhile, questions were raised about the presence of AAP leader Manish Sisodia in Varanasi, as all outsiders involved with poll campaign, excluding the candidates, are not allowed to remain within the constituency after campaigning stopped on evening of May 10.

Mr Rai, the Congress candidate, commissioned a  controversy when he came to vote wearing his party symbol of a hand on his kurta.

The BJP has alleged that is a violation of the rules, which ban candidates from using any material to canvass for votes once campaigning has ended.

Mr Rai said the “hand” was pinned to his kurta on the weekend and he “wore it unknowingly” to the polling booth today.

Voting in Varanasi will end at 6 pm.