Barring 2004 when the Congress won the seat, Varanasi has been a BJP stronghold since 1991. An impressive road show by Congress president Sonia Gandhi in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s constituency Varanasi on Tuesday despite ill health has given a head start to the party’s campaign for next year’s Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh. With the successful road show, the Congress hopes that it will once again emerge as a key player in the country’s most populous state. Out of the total 403 seats, the Congress had won just 28 in the 2012 assembly elections. He was challenged by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) strongman Arvind Kejriwal while the Congress had fielded Bhumihar leader Ajay Rai.

Source: Hindustan Times August 03, 2016 07:52 UTC