INDIA
When the Congress's undeclared PM-hopeful Rahul Gandhi lands in Varanasi on Saturday for a road show in support of party nominee Ajay Rai, it would mark a move that militates against all the high-sounding homilies that the Gandhi scion has been delivering in his campaign across the country about smut-free politics. It would also be a big taint on the image of "Mr Clean" he has apparently inherited from his late father. For, Rahul would be campaigning for a character who is much feared in east UP and known more as a mafia don and gangster rather than a political leader.
Political analysts were, in fact, aghast when Ajay Rai's name was announced as the Congress nominee against the BJP's PM-in-waiting Narendra Modi in Varanasi. The contrast was perhaps even more stark due to Aam Aadmi Party's Arvind Kejriwal, carrying a holier-than-thou halo, being in the eyeball-grabbing electoral contest. It was also rather ironical that the choice was made by none else but Priyanka Gandhi Vadra herself (which is what Ajay Rai himself told the media).
In police dossiers, Ajay Rai still finds mention as a member of the gang of mafia dons Brijesh Singh and Tribhuvan Singh since 1989. He has an impressive list of criminal charges against him, including heinous ones like attempt to murder, extortion, rioting, and cases under the Gangster Act.
If that were not dire enough, Rai has gone ahead and joined hands with another much-feared gangster of east UP Mukhtar Ansari in a rather mindless bid to boost his electoral prospects among the Ansari weavers of Varanasi who form the decisive votebank here. Mindless because Ansari is known to have scripted the murder of Ajay Rai's own elder brother Awadhesh Rai as well as his brother in law and once his mentor in the crime world, Krishnanand Rai, a BJP legislator.
Ajay Rai is facing a backlash within his community for this unusual alliance. Krishnanand Rai's widow Alka Rai has been campaigning among the Bhumihars (a sizeable 1.5 lakh in Varanasi) telling them not to vote for the "traitor". A senior journalist in Varanasi told dna the Congress may not get the Bhumihar votes which Ajay Rai has "taken for granted".
The Congress nominee is also facing a credibility crisis due to his strong BJP grounding. Rai began his political career as a BJP students' wing member and won the Kolsala Assembly seat in Varanasi three times in a row between 1996 and 2007 for the BJP.
Denied the BJP ticket in 2009, he contested the Lok Sabha election as an SP candidate and is known to have transferred his votes to the BJP veteran Murli Manohar Joshi just before the election as it became clear that BSP nominee Mukhtar Ansari would get a windfall of Muslim votes. Joshi just managed to scrape through with Rai's help.
"Voting for Ajay Rai would be like voting indirectly for the BJP. He might do the same thing this time as the contest is now between Modi and Kejriwal, who is getting all the Muslim support," says Mohd Ishaque, a Varanasi-based Urdu daily editor, perhaps amplifying the sentiment in the town known equally for its Vishwanath temple as well as the Gyanvapi mosque.
For his part, Ajay Rai has been frantically playing up the "local" card against "outsiders" Modi and Kejriwal. But that doesn't seem to be working out for him, not in this election at least.
DNA TV Show: How US Presidential election results may impact the world
Sharda Sinha dies at 72: Who are there in her family?
Who was Sharda Sinha aka Bihar Kokila, famous for Chhath and Maine Pyar Kiya songs?
Bihar Kokila Sharda Sinha passes away in AIIMS, son Anshuman confirms news
Parliament's winter session to begin from Nov 25, to continue till Dec 20
IPL 2025 mega auction dates announced: Check no. of players, venue, where to watch and more
Deepinder Goyal reveals customers' reaction to wife Grecia Munoz delivering Zomato orders
Infosys founder Narayana Murthy flirts with Sudha Murty in viral video from Kapil Sharma show
Ajay Devgn's fans don't want Singham Again to become a blockbuster: 'Rohit Shetty jab tak hai...'
Types, Most Popular and Where to Buy Peptides for Bodybuilding
Luxury in the City of Light: SABO Boutique Hotel Brings Elegance to Varanasi’s Sacred Ghats
Virat Kohli, Babar Azam could play for same team as Afro-Asia Cup set for revival
Shaping the Future of Web Apps: Full Stack Developer’s Expertise in API Design and Cloud Deployment
The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Enhancing Software Performance and Security
Mastering Linux for Superior Sound
Amid divorce rumours of Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai, Aaradhya praises mother in viral video
AI in Data Warehousing: Future Trends and Innovations
Mukesh Ambani's Reliance Jio IPO worth Rs 840960 crore in 2025: All you need to know
After India's 0-3 loss against New Zealand, Shah Rukh Khan calls Gautam Gambhir...
BIG revelation on Imane Khelif, Olympic gold medallist boxer's medical repot leaked, it confirms…
Meet man who built Rs 152000 crore company, donated Rs 100 crore, now set to lead US firm as...
Visa Uncertainty: Impact of US polls on global talent
Virat Kohli turns 36: IPL franchises send heartwarming birthday wishes to legendary India cricketer
Meet Sanjay Verma, the new DGP of Maharashtra who replaced Rashmi Shukla
Anushka Sharma shares FIRST photo of Akaay, Vamika to celebrate Virat Kohli’s birthday
CAT 2024 admit card to be out today at iimcat.ac.in; know release time, steps to download
Vikas Divyakirti UPSC Tips: Check strategy to crack IAS exam, aspirants should study for...
Video of Pakistani man putting hand into chained tiger's mouth goes viral, social media reacts
Shalini Passi reveals her husband's connection to Shah Rukh Khan's wife Gauri Khan, they were..
SC upholds validity of UP madrassa law, says it does not violate principle of secularism
US Presidential Elections 2024: What time do the polls close; when will the results be known?
Elon Musk shares controversial post on X amid US election results, video goes viral
Mukesh Ambani's company earned Rs 15393 crore last week, his net worth now stands at...
Chhath Puja 2024: Know about Kharna, Sandhya Arghya, Usha Arghya, date, timings and puja vidhi
Virat Kohli Birthday: Legendary batter turns 36, here's a look at his incredible milestones
When Ratan Tata met his first true love after 50 years, went for dinner together, know who she was
Samantha Ruth Prabhu hits back at trolls who body-shamed her: 'If you guys...'
Two fall prey to Narayana Murthy and Mukesh Ambani's deepfake videos, lose Rs 80 lakh: Report
North Korea fires multiple ballistic missiles toward sea ahead of US election
Deepika Padukone romances Hrithik Roshan in Bikini, looks sizzling hot in UNSEEN viral video
Chhath Puja 2024: Top 50 wishes, What'sApp messages, quotes to share with your loved ones
Meet Caroline Emmons, Ratan Tata's 'first love' with whom he couldn't marry due to...
Who is Rohan Jaitley, frontrunner to replace Jay Shah as BCCI secretary?
World’s most expensive human tooth is valued over Rs 3000000, it belonged to…
Viral video: Little girl’s adorable dance to Lisa Haydon’s 'Manali Trance' impresses internet, watch
SC to deliver its verdict on pleas against Allahabad HC order scrapping UP madrasa law today
DNA TV Show: Why Election Commission changed Assembly by-elections' dates
Days after imposing fine on Anil Ambani, Sebi now issues Rs 130 crore demand notices to...
Thailand announces indefinite visa-free entry for Indian travellers
Meet daughter of billionaire, who studied in UK, now works in Rs 32770 crore Indian company as...
MUDA case: Lokayukta police summon Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah for questioning on...
This city is 4000 years old, belongs to bronze age where 500 people lived, it is located in...