Will Ajai Rai Leave Politics if PM Modi Stays in Varanasi Beyond 2029?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Ajai Rai's bold commitment to quit politics if PM Modi remains in Varanasi post-2029.
- Rai's appeal for voter unity against community divisions.
- Insights into the 2027 Assembly elections and their significance.
- Reflection on the changing political landscape in Uttar Pradesh.
- Analysis of PM Modi's election margins and their implications for future contests.
Lucknow, July 6 (NationPress) In a bold statement while campaigning for the 2027 Assembly elections, Uttar Pradesh Congress President Ajai Rai declared that he would exit politics if Prime Minister Narendra Modi is not compelled to abandon the Varanasi seat in 2029.
Speaking to supporters in the Pindra Assembly constituency, Rai remarked, “If you help us secure victory in the 2027 elections, the strength of your vote will ensure that PM Modi has to leave Varanasi in 2029,” he asserted.
“From this platform, I pledge to step away from politics if PM Modi is not ousted from Varanasi in 2029 following our success in 2027,” Rai stated confidently.
He emphasized their potential for power, despite facing challenges, and criticized the opposing party for fostering division among communities.
During the launch of a book honoring former legislator Comrade Udal, attended by former Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel and other INDI bloc leaders, Rai urged voters to support the Congress in the upcoming Assembly elections. He insisted that their backing would facilitate PM Modi's exit from Varanasi in the next parliamentary election.
“Those attempting to sow discord in society based on caste and creating rifts between Hindus and Muslims will also be confronted,” he added.
Rai accused the ruling party of employing unfair tactics to secure a BJP legislator's election in 2022 from the Pindra Assembly seat, where he finished third, trailing behind the BSP candidate. He claimed that had Congress won this seat in 2022, the 2024 Lok Sabha elections would have posed a significant challenge for PM Modi.
He pointed to the reduced margin of PM Modi's victory in Varanasi during the 2024 elections, stating, “The voters of Sat Gaon in Banaras decreased PM Modi's victory margin in 2024, and I would have won that Lok Sabha seat if I had also gained the 2022 Assembly seat,” he asserted.
In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, PM Modi garnered over 612,000 votes, while his closest competitor, Ajai Rai of Congress, received over 460,000 votes. In contrast, Modi secured over 674,000 votes in 2019, compared to the Samajwadi Party's Shalini Yadav, who garnered around 195,000 votes.