UPCC Vice President offers his name to contest from Varanasi

Lucknow, Apr 1: Senior UP Congress leader Siraj Mehdi on Tuesday suggested fielding of a local candidate in Varanasi Lok Sabha seat against "outsiders" Narendra Modi of BJP and Arvind Kejriwal of AAP.

In a letter to Congress President Sonia Gandhi, Mehdi, who is PCC Vice President, offered his candidature there saying Congress should act "differently" by fielding a local person.

"Some names of prospective Congress candidates are doing the rounds. But they are all outsiders," he said, adding the party should field a local and if it does not find a proper candidate, he (Mehdi) could be given the ticket.

"I had sought party ticket from Jaunpur but since high command made Ravi Kishan the nominee we all welcomed him", he said, adding, if directed, he would contest from Varanasi.

Mehdi has also sent a copy of the letter to Vice President Rahul Gandhi, General Secretary AICC and incharge of UP affairs, Madhusudan Mistry and UPCC president Nirmal Khatri.

PTI