It’s Kejriwal vs Modi in Varanasi

Agencies/New DelhiAam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal yesterday announced plans to run against Bharatiya Janata Party’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi in the holy Hindu city of Varanasi in elections. The leader of the fledgling anti-corruption party said he was ready to take on Modi in general elections that kick off in phases next month. “I will contest elections from Varanasi. I am ready to accept the challenge and fight Modi from this holy turf,” the 45-year-old said to loud cheers at a rally. After his arrival in the city, Kejriwal took a traditional dip in the sacred Ganges river before visiting a famous temple where priests smeared his forehead with sandalwood paste. His trip was marred briefly when opponents splattered him with ink as he toured the city in an open truck with close aides. Witnesses said eggs were also hurled. Kejriwal asked people to “unleash a revolution” by ensuring the defeat of both Modi and Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi, who he described as two sides of the same coin.He asked aloud at the rally if he should battle the Lok Sabha election from the city.As the crowds responded with a roaring “yes,” Kejriwal declared in what was clearly a scripted answer that he was ready to accept the electoral challenge.As a party activist garlanded Kejriwal amid cheering and clapping, the AAP leader dubbed Modi’s development agenda in Gujarat as a “farce” and called upon the chief minister to engage with him in a public debate.He accused Modi of befriending tainted politicians in his desperation to become the prime minister, and reiterated that the BJP leader was closely linked to corporate houses which heavily funded him and had vested interest in seeing him elected.“Congressmen are leaving the Congress and joining the BJP,” he said. “Then what is the difference between the two parties?”Earlier in the day, Kejriwal told the media his real aim was to challenge the graft-tainted Congress Party and the BJP, both of which had “failed voters.” “It is not just about challenging Modi,” Kejriwal told NDTV en route to Varanasi. “People in this country don’t vote for a person, they become angry and vote against a person. I am saying this time let us defeat both political parties,” he said. He described the coming election as a game-changer in the nation’s history.Kejriwal underlined how his colleague Kumar Vishwas had taken on Gandhi in Amethi, also in Uttar Pradesh. “If we defeat the two of them, there will be a political earthquake.”According to him, this might lead to political instability but it would lead to another election within one year when honest Indians would be able to get elected to parliament.Asking people to take a month’s leave and reach Amethi and Varanasi to campaign against Gandhi and Modi, Kejriwal sought financial assistance to fight his battle against the BJP leader.“I don’t have money,” he said, holding a hand-held mike. “Just as Madan Mohan Malaviya collected one rupee each as donation from people to set up the Banaras Hindu University, I too will come to collect money.”Kejriwal, however, underscored he had no personal enmity with Modi or Gandhi or for that matter with any political leader.“This is not an election of Varanasi... This is to decide what will happen to India, what kind of country we want.”Although analysts say there is little likelihood of Kejriwal beating Modi, challenging him in such a high-profile constituency will guarantee maximum media coverage for him and his party. Modi’s choice of Varanasi is loaded with symbolism, given his background as a Hindu hawk. The Aam Aadmi Party, which is contesting its first general election, briefly gained control of the Delhi state assembly in December after riding a wave of anger about a series of corruption scandals. Kejriwal, a former tax official turned corruption fighter and politician, became for a short while Delhi’s chief minister after he unseated incumbent Sheila Dikshit of the Congress Party in her constituency in state elections. The nine-phase general election begins on April 7 and ends on May 12 in the giant state of Uttar Pradesh, which includes Varanasi. Results will be announced four days later on May 16.