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Confirmed: Rahul Gandhi to contest against Modi, Kejriwal in Varanasi

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Rahul Gandhi
New Delhi, April 1: Putting an end to all speculations, Congress finally decided the name who will challenge Narendra Modi and Arvind Kejriwal in Varanasi in the upcoming Lok Sabha election. This is none other than but Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi.

After much discussion and thought, Congress President Sonia Gandhi and other senior party leaders decided that Rahul should move out of Congress's "safe zone" and face his two of the most biggest opponents -- Modi and Kejriwal.

It is the Varanasi contest that is grabbing most attention, not least because of Kejriwal's dramatic declaration that he will fight to defeat Modi there. Now, with Congress's latest announcement, Varanasi has become the most important battlefield for the general election.

Rahul should move out of Congress's safe and zone to face Modi, Kejriwal

Earlier there were reports that senior Congress party leaders such as Digvijay Singh, Rashid Alvi, Anand Sharma had expressed their desires to contest from Varanasi. Even Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram too said that he would have contested from the holy city if his Hindi was fluent.

Chidambaram was quoted as saying, "I wish my Hindi was fluent and I could contest against BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi from Varanasi."

Earlier media reports said that Congress might field local candidates in Varanasi challenging the AAP leader and BJP's prime ministerial candidate. But rejecting all proposals from senior party leaders, Mrs Gandhi selected Rahul for Varanasi.

Speaking about Rahul's candidature from Varanasi, Digvijay Singh said, "Rahul Gandhi is the best choice against Modi and Kejriwal. Rahulji will defeat his opponents by at least one lakh votes."

All senior Congress leaders showed confidence in Rahul who is apparently the prime ministerial candidate of the party. However, BJP leaders were not available to make any comment at the moment. Varanasi votes on May 12, the last of nine phases of polling in these general elections. The first phase is on April 7.

Rahul is also contesting from Congress's stronghold Amethi, Uttar Pradesh. In this constituency, Rahul is contesting against AAP leader Kumar Vishwas and BJP leader Smriti Irani.

[NOTE: On April Fool's day, OneIndia News tried to look at how the whole nation would react at the news if Rahul Gandhi contests from Varanasi challenging Modi and Kejriwal. Wish you all a happy April Fool Day]

OneIndia News

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