Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, March 25: As the battle lines are drawn for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, the spotlight once again falls on Varanasi, where Uttar Pradesh Congress President Ajay Rai is set to contest against Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the third consecutive time. However, the consensus among locals is that there’s little contest in Varanasi, given the Prime Minister’s towering popularity.
Rai’s political journey traces back to his days with the BJP’s students’ wing, where he began his ascent, eventually securing three UP assembly terms on a BJP ticket between 1996 and 2007. However, his switch to the Samajwadi Party in 2009, followed by a move to the Congress three years later, marked significant shifts in his political allegiance.
In the 2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Rai found himself in a three-way battle for Varanasi, ultimately finishing in the third slot both times, behind Prime Minister Modi and other contenders. Despite the spirited efforts of Rai and the Congress, the Prime Minister’s victory margin remained substantial, signaling the stronghold of the BJP in the region.
Acknowledging the apparent mismatch in popularity and electoral outcomes, some supporters of Rai express reservations about contesting against the Prime Minister, questioning the efficacy of challenging such a dominant force in the electoral arena. Others view Rai’s candidacy as a symbolic gesture to boost party morale, albeit against the backdrop of a virtually predetermined outcome.
Despite the enthusiasm surrounding Rai’s candidacy, political analysts underscore the longstanding dominance of the BJP in Varanasi, rendering the electoral contest more of a ritualistic celebration than a genuine competition. The recent defection of former Congress MP Rajesh Mishra to the BJP further underscores the uphill battle faced by Rai and the Congress in the region.
As Varanasi braces for yet another electoral spectacle, Rai’s candidacy serves as a testament to the enduring political dynamics and entrenched party loyalties in the heartland of Uttar Pradesh. However, with the odds stacked against him, Rai’s electoral endeavor in Varanasi appears more symbolic than substantive, highlighting the enduring electoral prowess of the BJP in the region.
