Cong eyes entry in Modi turf as BJP infighting intensifies

As the infighting within the BJP over distribution of tickets in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Lok Sabha constituency of Varanasi intensified further, the Congress is apparently sniffing an opportunity. The grand old party held hectic parleys with the Samajwadi Party (SP), its alliance partner, for contesting the three Assembly seats in the constituency.

According to sources in the Congress here, the party could be given the North, South and Cantonment seats in the city. Local leaders of the Congress and SP held parleys to identify the seats. Congress leaders here said that there was large-scale resentment within the local BJP unit and the party stood a “fair chance” on these seats.

“A good performance in the city will be a big morale booster for the workers and will put BJP under pressure in 2019 Lok Sabha polls,” said a senior Congress leader here. Apparently anticipating the Congress’ strategy, the BJP on Tuesday rushed two central ministers, Manoj Sinha and Mahendra Nath Pandey, to resolve the differences.