As the Lok Sabha elections draw nearer, the Congress party has unveiled its fourth list of candidates for Uttar Pradesh, with Ajay Rai stepping into the spotlight once again as the party’s pick for the Varanasi constituency. Notably, Varanasi has served as the political stronghold of Prime Minister Narendra Modi since 2014.
Ajay Rai currently holds the position of Uttar Pradesh Congress chief, but his political journey traces back to his days as a ‘karyakarta’ of the Hindu nationalist organization Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).
A graduate of Kashi Vidyapeeth in Varanasi, Rai’s early political involvement saw him as the convenor of the BJP’s student wing, the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), during 1991-92. His activism extended to participation in the Ram Janmabhoomi movement, for which he faced legal repercussions.
Rai’s political career saw significant victories, notably defeating the nine-time sitting Communist Party of India (Marxist) MLA from the Kolasla seat in 1996 and 2002. His tenure included a ministerial position as the state minister for cooperatives in the Mayawati-led BSP-BJP alliance government.
However, Rai’s trajectory shifted in 2007 when he left the BJP, feeling sidelined after the party nominated veteran leader Murli Manohar Joshi as its Lok Sabha candidate from Varanasi. Joining the Samajwadi Party, Rai faced defeat in the subsequent elections against Joshi.
In 2012, Rai aligned himself with the Congress party, contesting from Pindra (formerly Kolasla) and securing a victory against a BJP candidate. His notable challenge came in 2014 when he contested against PM Modi in Varanasi, securing the third position in a contest that evolved into a two-sided battle between Modi and AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal.
In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Rai once again contested from Varanasi, securing the third position with 1.52 lakh votes and a vote share of 14.38%, paling in comparison to PM Modi’s overwhelming vote share of 63.62%.
As the Lok Sabha polls approach in 2024, Varanasi prepares for another significant electoral showdown. The constituency, comprising five assembly seats, will witness voting on 1 June, with a voter base of 19.62 lakh individuals, including a substantial number of first-time voters. Rai’s candidacy stands as a formidable challenge against PM Modi’s bid for reelection from this politically crucial constituency.
