New Delhi: The Congress Party has decided to field Ajay Rai from Varanasi, ending speculation that Priyanka Gandhi would take on Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the constituency.
The Congress also announced Madhusudan Tiwari as the party's candidate from Gorakhpur.
The naming of Ajai Rai as the Congress candidate puts a stop to weeks of rumours and speculation that Priyanka Gandhi would be making her political debut from Varanasi.
Speculation was rife about Priyanka being named the Congress contestant from the seat after Congress president Rahul Gandhi, in response to a question on whether he planned to field his sister against Modi said last week: "I will leave you in suspense. Suspense is not always a bad thing," PTI reported.
The Congress had fielded Ajai Rai against Modi in 2014 as well. He finished third in the contest, after Modi and Aam Aadmi Party's Arvind Kejriwal, the PTI report added.
