The opposition bloc in INDIA is contemplating a lineup of political heavyweights to challenge Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the Varanasi Lok Sabha constituency of Uttar Pradesh, according to sources. Following a meeting in Delhi to discuss seat-sharing, the bloc is strategizing to break the BJP’s stronghold on Varanasi, a constituency that has consistently voted for the party since 1991, except in 2004. Narendra Modi secured a mandate from Varanasi in both the 2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha elections, with the latter election witnessing a mandate exceeding 60 percent. Nitish Kumar, Priyanka Gandhi and others have been selected for the major proposal in the INDIA bloc.
While the Congress once held sway in Varanasi for a decade from 1952, the task of wresting the seat from Prime Minister Modi appears formidable for the INDIA bloc. Nitish Kumar, a founding leader of the bloc and former ally turned rival of the BJP, is being considered for the challenge. Nitish Kumar, previously discussed as a potential Prime Minister candidate, has denied such ambitions. Recently, posters in Patna seemingly supporting him for the role surfaced, raising speculation and pressure on the INDIA bloc.
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, another proposed candidate, has never contested an election. In 2019, there was speculation that she might contest from Varanasi, but the Congress fielded Ajay Rai, who finished third. Trinamool chief Mamata Banerjee has reportedly proposed Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s name and also suggested Mallikarjun Kharge as a potential Prime Minister candidate for the INDIA bloc.
Arvind Kejriwal, Chief Minister of Delhi and head of the Aam Aadmi Party, is another option for the INDIA bloc. In 2014, he contested against Modi in Varanasi, finishing second with around 20 percent of the votes. Despite these potential contenders, challenging Modi remains a difficult task, given the BJP’s effective election-winning machinery showcased in recent victories in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Chhattisgarh, where Modi served as the central figure in the campaign. As the INDIA bloc navigates the challenge of agreeing on a common candidate, the formidable “Modi factor” continues to shape the political landscape ahead of the upcoming elections.