Rai: Rai, who misplaced to Modi twice, is UP Congress chief | Lucknow Information
LUCKNOW/ NEW DELHI: AICC on Thursday appointed five-time former UP MLA Ajay Rai, a Bhumihar who had unsuccessfully contested in opposition to PM Narendra Modi in two consecutive Lok Sabha polls in Varanasi, as the brand new president of the state unit, changing former MP Brijlal Khabri, a Dalit.
Moreover, Randeep Surjewala changed Jai Prakash Agarwal as common secretary answerable for poll-bound Madhya Pradesh and Mukul Wasnik changed Raghu Sharma as answerable for Gujarat.
Rai mentioned: “I’m grateful to my leaders Mallikarjun Kharge, Priyanka Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi for placing the accountability of UP Congress Committee on the shoulders of an bizarre employee like me.”
Thus far, Rai was heading the occasion’s Prayagraj zone, one of many six zones within the state. As per Rai’s appointment letter, issued by AICC common secretary KC Venugopal, the posts of zonal presidents have been dissolved.
“The change of guard was anticipated and has been performed with 2024 Lok Sabha polls in thoughts,” remarked a senior Congress chief. Khabri, who had crossed over to Congress from BSP, had taken over as UP PCC chief in October final yr. Often known as the ‘strongman of the Purvanchal’, Rai began his political profession with BJP and gained the erstwhile Kolasla meeting seat in Varanasi thrice between 1996 and 2007. He stop BJP forward of the 2009 Lok Sabha elections when he was de nied the occasion ticket from Varanasi. SP fielded him as its candidate however he was defeated by BJP stalwart Murli Manohar Joshi. He then instantly stop SP and contested Kolasla bypoll profitable as an impartial.
In 2012, he joined Congress and efficiently contested from the newly shaped Pindra constituen cy which was got here into existence after delimitation and included a big a part of the Kolasla seat. Rai shot to limelight when Congress fielded him in opposition to Modi in 2014 LS polls. Nevertheless, he obtained misplaced within the Modi-Arvind Kejriwal battle and will safe barely 7% votes. He was fielded once more in 2019 LS polls and once more completed third behind SP’s Shalini Yadav.
Rai additionally couldn’t safe a win in his house turf Pindra in 2017 and 2022 meeting polls.
Congress common secretary in cost Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will play an essential function in constituting the brand new PCC after consultations with Rai and 6 AICC secretary in expenses, Neelanshu Chaturvedi, Rajesh Tewari, Dheeraj Gujjar, Taukir Alam, Pradeep Narwal and Satyanarayan Patel.
