Arvind Kejriwal in Varanasi to begin campaign

Varanasi: Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal arrived by train this morning in Varanasi, where he has challenged the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi to what is seen as one of the top contests in this general election.

Mr Kejriwal begins his campaign here today. He had last visited three weeks ago and announced his candidacy. An advance party of senior AAP leaders like Sanjay Singh and Manish Sisodia has already been camped in the Uttar Pradesh temple town and other party activists have been arriving to prep for their party chief’s tour .

The former taxman, who was the chief minister of Delhi for 49 days, is expected to spend time in Varanasi’s villages today. “He knows how to strike a chord with people. That’s his biggest strength,” a party member said.

Varanasi has been the most closely watched constituency in these elections ever since the BJP shrugged off some internal strife to announce that it would field Mr Modi from here. The contest was given another twist last week with Quami Ekta Dal leader Mukhtar Ansari withdrawing from the race, “to strengthen secular forces and avoid division of votes”.

The AAP will hope that his withdrawal will mean direct benefit for Mr Kejriwal. Mr Ansari, as a BSP candidate, had come in a close second in 2009 behind the BJP’s Murli Manohar Joshi.

The Congress has fielded local leader Ajai Rai in Varanasi, and has appealed to other parties to help him battle Mr Modi.

Yesterday, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, the daughter of  Congress president Sonia Gandhi, denied a newspaper report that there was a proposal that she contest against  Mr Modi in Varanasi.

Varanasi votes in the last of the 10 phases, on May 12. Candidates have to file their nominations latest by April 24 and can withdraw by April 28.