Akhilesh isn’t pushing this Cong candidate

Pindra candidate Ajai Rai was booked under NSA, jailed, then HC set it aside

SITTING CONGRESS MLA from Pindra in Varanasi, Ajai Rai, who had contested the Lok Sabha election against Narendra Modi is considered his party’s strongest hope in Varanasi this Assembly election. But while the Congress has been eager to hold a grand show of its alliance with the Samajwadi Party in favour of Rai, Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav is reportedly not very keen.

Yadav, who had strongly opposed the merger of jailed don Mukhtar Ansari’s party Quami Ekta Dal in the Samajwadi Party, is said to have had reservations against Rai who has cases against him.

Two roadshows tentatively planned for Varanasi have been cancelled during the last 10 days.

Rai was arrested in October 2015 in connection with a case of violence and arson during a protest rally by seers in Varanasi who were demanding permission for immersion of idols in Ganga. Varanasi Police had then booked Rai under National Security Act. The NSA was set aside by Allahabad High Court later and he was granted bail in April 2016 — after almost six months in jail.

Having planned a joint roadshow with Akhilesh twice in the past in Varanasi, Congress and Samajwadi Party ostensibly

Neeraj Priyadarshi A BJP supporter at the PM’S rally in Mau.