My aim is to defeat Narendra Modi in Varanasi: Arvind Kejriwal

Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday expressed confidence of defeating Narendra Modi in Varanasi Lok Sabha constituency in the upcoming elections, saying that he had not chosen a ‘safe’ seat since his main objective was to beat the BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate.

Training his guns at BJP and Congress, Kejriwal said, “I am contesting from Varanasi as I want to defeat Modi and Kumar Vishwas will defeat Rahul Gandhi in Amethi. We have not chosen safe seats to win and reach Parliament.”

Following reports in some sections of the media that he might join the BJP if Narendra Modi decides not hike the gas prices, Kejriwal said that he will never join these parties and that he was being misinterpreted. He also reminded the crowd of the attacks on him in Gujarat and Bhiwani in Haryana and said that some people pelted eggs on him after he had come out of Vishwanath temple in Varanasi.

Campaigning for the third day in the capital, Kejriwal on Wednesday ventured into different assembly segments of East Delhi constituency along with the local party candidate Rajmohan Gandhi.

Buoyed by the public response, Kejriwal hit back at Congress and BJP who had been accusing him of running away from Delhi. “They say that I ran away, I have not run away toPakistan. It requires guts to leave the chair of Chief Minister. I will stay here among people and will continue to torment you (BJP and Congress),” he said, adding that he will continue his fight against corruption till his last breath.

Invoking mythology to attack his rivals, Kejriwal said, “Lord Ram left for vanvas on his mother’s order despite popular support. Had BJP been there even they would have called him a bhagoda (deserter). Even they would call King Harischandra a bhagoda had BJP been there during his time,” Kejriwal said.

Raising local issues, Kejriwal said that Congress and BJP cancelled the subsidy on water and electricity, provisions which were initiated during his 49 days of government in Delhi.

“The BJP and the Congress cancelled the subsidy for the benefit of the electricity companies. Both these parties are hand-in-gloves,” he said and urged people to “get rid of BJP and Congress.” Kejriwal further said that both BJP and Congress are running away from forming a government in Delhi and were instead calling him a “Bhagoda”.

Kejriwal along with a large number of supporters stopped at various points and made short speeches, drawing cheers from the crowd.Kejriwal, who was in an open jeep along with Gandhi, started his road show from Geeta Colony at around 10 AM from where they moved to Shastri Nagar, Gandhi nagar and Krishnagar.

Throughout the road show, residents peered out from the windows of their houses, waving and cheering the Aam Aadmi Party chief. Women performed ‘aarti’ and people gave him garlands. In some places, residents showered flowers on them. However, in Gandhi Nagar, some people tried to show black flags to Kejriwal but he gave them garlands in return.