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for the candidate of the ruling BSP. When he protested against the alleged harassment, he and seven of his supporters were arrested. Rai won the by-elections. In 2010, Rai staged a sit-in to protest the arrest of the local corporator Sanjay Singh and his associate Jitin Jha. The two had been arrested for assaulting and robbing a hotel owner. After Rai refused to end his protest, he and his supporters were arrested.
629:
44:
805:
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After losing the Lok Sabha elections, he contested the
Kolasla by-elections as an independent. He alleged that BSP had pressurised him to join the party, and when he refused, his security cover was reduced. During the campaigning, he accused some police officers of pressurising his supporters to work
489:(SP), stating that the SP was responsible for "all the ills plaguing the State". However, in 2009, he resigned as an MLA, after BJP refused to give him a ticket for contesting the Lok Sabha elections from Varanasi. He then joined SP, and contested the elections against BJP's
518:
constituency, which comprises a sizeable portion of the former
Kolasla constituency. He routed the BJP candidate, who received just 3,000 votes. When he contested the 2012 elections, Rai was an accused in 16 criminal cases, and was booked under the Gangster Act and
1522:
493:. He lost the elections, getting the third highest number of votes after Joshi and Mukhtaar Ansari. His supporters allegedly campaigned for Joshi to ensure the defeat of his arch-rival Mukhtar Ansari in a communally-polarized environment.
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443:, Anil Singh stated that Ajay Rai and others had fired at his jeep in the Cantonment area on 20 August 1991. Rai was later cleared of all charges in the case.
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from Pindra as a
Congress candidate. Since then, he has participated in protests against Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the Varanasi city.
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He became an associate of
Brijesh Singh, after his elder brother Awadhesh Rai was shot dead in Lahurabir area, allegedly by
458:
by a narrow margin of 484 votes. He went on to retain the seat in the 2002 and 2007 elections, defeating
Awadhesh Singh of
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530:
Rai was the
Congress candidate in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections from Varanasi. He lost to BJP's prime-ministerial nominee
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during a march by seers and other local leaders against police action on protesters opposing ban on immersion of
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area, Rai has changed his party affiliations several times. He began his political career as a member of the
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and his men in 1994. Earlier, he had been associated with
Brijesh Singh and Tribhuvan Singh since 1989.
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In 2019, Rai lost the Lok Sabha
Elections from Varanasi constituency as a Congress candidate against
351:. Subsequently, he won the 2009 Legislative Assembly by-election from the Kolasla constituency as an
320:
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524:
490:
459:
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In 1991, his name had figured in an attack on the Anil Singh, the deputy mayor of
Varanasi. In his
1053:"യുപിയിൽ മോദിയെ വിറപ്പിച്ച 'ലോക്കൽ ബോയ്'; തോറ്റിട്ടും അജയ് റായ് ബാഹുബലി; '24x7 ജനങ്ങള്ക്കൊപ്പം'"
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Who is Ajay Rai? A history-sheeter, he lost to Modi by 5 lakh votes in 2014 Lok Sabha election
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259:
1441:"Pindra - Uttar Pradesh Election Result 2017 - Party and Candidate Wise Full Winner List"
335:
elections from the
Kolasla constituency three times in a row between 1996 and 2007 on a
953:
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On 5 October 2015, Rai was arrested for his alleged role in the violence and arson in
1486:
575:
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383:
229:
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578:, securing second place. But Narendra Modi's majority decreased to 152,513 votes.
510:
After the Kolasla constituency ceased to exist post-delimitation, Rai won from the
447:
1266:
1035:
No Priyanka Gandhi vs Narendra Modi faceoff in Varanasi, Congress fields Ajay Rai
415:
Rai began his political career as a member of the BJP's youth wing. According to
553:
He was released 7 months later, when the Allahabad High Court granted him bail.
43:
288:
474:
340:
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elections from the Kolasla seat on a BJP ticket. He defeated the nine-time
402:. He graduated from the Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapith University in 1989.
382:
parliament seat in the 2014, 2019, and 2024 general elections, and lost to
1523:
United Progressive Alliance candidates in the 2014 Indian general election
1410:
Varanasi violence: Congress MLA Ajay Rai arrested, FIR against 105 persons
542:
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463:
280:
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Ajay Rai was born in Varanasi to Parvati Devi Rai and Surendra Rai in a
17:
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https://results.eci.gov.in/PcResultGenJune2024/candidateswise-S2477.htm
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1423:"Congress MLA Ajay Rai released from jail after 7-month imprisonment"
550:
520:
1192:"5 cases, 20 days, UP don acquitted as witnesses, cops turn hostile"
804:
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from Uttar Pradesh. He is the current Uttar Pradesh Congress chief.
1300:"Former BJP MLA to contest Kolasla bypoll as independent candidate"
1385:"History-sheeters dominate Congress' list of electoral candidates"
308:(born 7 October 1969) is an Indian politician and a member of the
485:
In 2007, Rai denied the rumours that he was planning to join the
523:
Act. According to him, he had been framed in four cases by the
1463:"Ajay secured third place in 2019 Varanasi Loksabha Elections"
336:
1107:
1105:
1533:
Indian National Congress politicians from Uttar Pradesh
1282:"It's outsider versus local in Varanasi, says Ajay Rai"
1113:"It's outsider versus local in Varanasi, says Ajay Rai"
1152:"Strongman Ajay Rai dreads the 420 tag given by party"
1503:
Bharatiya Janata Party politicians from Uttar Pradesh
1320:"Rai moves court against withdrawal of addl security"
1338:"Independent candidate for Kolasla by-poll arrested"
1080:
Congress wants a Brahmin against Modi, not Digvijaya
371:, which comprises a sizeable portion of the former
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1366:"Kolasala legislator arrested for creating ruckus"
1211:"BJP tie-up doesn't go down well in Apna Dal land"
1229:"Kolasala assembly seat heading for a big fight"
570:In 2024, Rai lost the Lok Sabha Elections from
339:ticket. He left the party after being denied a
1352:"BJP, SP, Congress Get Drubbing in UP Bypolls"
1012:. Election Commission of India. Archived from
527:regime, while other cases were "mostly over".
363:ceased to exist post-delimitation, he won the
1128:
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574:constituency as a Congress candidate against
59:President of Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee
8:
800:
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1134:"AcT I: tainted candidates take the floor"
31:
1004:
1002:
996:, The Financial Express (April 25, 2019)
585:
1383:Virendra Nath Bhatt (7 February 2012).
983:
1190:Bhupendra Pandey (12 September 2009).
378:He was the Congress candidate for the
1010:"Constituency-wise results: Varanasi"
989:
987:
7:
1047:
1045:
1043:
1173:"Varanasi polls get more sensitive"
1171:Bhupendra Pandey (20 March 2009).
105:Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly
25:
347:and unsuccessfully contested the
803:
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462:(BSP) by much larger margins. A
42:
1265:. 22 March 2007. Archived from
1235:. 20 April 2007. Archived from
1209:Seema Chishti (23 April 2007).
764:
723:
294:Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapeeth
1465:. Business Today. 23 May 2019.
1037:, India Today (April 25, 2019)
506:Indian National Congress (INC)
312:since 2012. He is a five-time
1:
1259:"No plan to join SP: BJP MLA"
558:Uttar Pradesh state elections
477:in the Kolasla constituency.
1548:Uttar Pradesh MLAs 2007–2012
1543:Uttar Pradesh MLAs 1997–2002
1528:Uttar Pradesh MLAs 2002–2007
1518:Uttar Pradesh MLAs 2012–2017
1354:. India TV. 1 November 2009.
1340:. Zee News. 28 October 2009.
1280:Omar Rashid (9 April 2014).
411:Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)
331:'s student wing. He won the
1508:Samajwadi Party politicians
1421:Binay Singhi (2 May 2016).
797:16th Uttar Pradesh Assembly
446:In 1996, Rai contested the
398:family who were natives of
343:ticket. He then joined the
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466:himself, he relied on the
421:, he was known as a local
1513:Politicians from Varanasi
1387:. Tehelka. Archived from
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809:Indian National Congress
567:, securing third place.
390:Early life and education
357:Indian National Congress
349:2009 Lok Sabha elections
310:Indian National Congress
241:Indian National Congress
128:constituency established
512:2012 Assembly elections
367:from the newly created
365:2012 Assembly elections
633:Bharatiya Janata Party
329:Bharatiya Janata Party
283:, Uttar Pradesh, India
254:Bharatiya Janata Party
185:constituency dissolved
534:, coming third after
425:(strongman) and is a
1538:People from Ghazipur
481:Samajwadi Party (SP)
373:Kolasla constituency
361:Kolasla constituency
333:Legislative Assembly
1085:13 May 2014 at the
756:2009 (Bye-election)
525:Bahujan Samaj Party
491:Murli Manohar Joshi
460:Bahujan Samaj Party
369:Pindra constituency
359:in 2012. After the
1427:The Times of India
1370:The Indian Express
1324:The Times of India
598:Constituency Name
556:In 2017, Rai lost
418:The Indian Express
1372:. 28 August 2010.
1308:. 5 October 2009.
1058:Malayala Manorama
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400:Ghazipur district
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1160:. 14 April 2014.
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406:Political career
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355:. He joined the
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1253:
1241:. Retrieved
1237:the original
1232:
1223:
1214:
1204:
1195:
1185:
1176:
1166:
1155:
1146:
1137:
1116:
1093:
1075:
1063:. Retrieved
1056:
1030:
1018:. Retrieved
1014:the original
607:Vote share%
569:
562:
555:
551:Ganga river.
540:
529:
509:
500:
484:
448:Vidhan Sabha
445:
438:
431:
422:
416:
414:
393:
377:
318:
305:
304:
276:Residence(s)
250:affiliations
191:Constituency
184:
180:Succeeded by
157:
146:Constituency
135:Succeeded by
127:
112:
77:
66:
29:
1493:1969 births
1443:. Firstpost
768:Independent
497:Independent
353:independent
279:Maldahiya,
263:(2009-2012)
257:(1996–2009)
168:Preceded by
123:Preceded by
89:Preceded by
48:Rai in 2024
1487:Categories
979:References
475:vote banks
289:Alma mater
216:1969-10-07
1447:21 August
1286:The Hindu
1233:The Hindu
1117:The Hindu
914:5,22,116
856:5,05,408
592:Election
341:Lok Sabha
321:strongman
271:Reena Rai
162:1996–2011
158:In office
117:2012–2017
113:In office
68:Incumbent
1395:15 April
1243:15 April
1083:Archived
972:152,513
966:460,457
959:Varanasi
908:152,548
901:Varanasi
843:Varanasi
744:123,874
737:Varanasi
572:Varanasi
543:Varanasi
468:Bhumihar
464:Bhumihar
423:bahubali
380:Varanasi
325:Varanasi
319:A local
306:Ajay Rai
281:Varanasi
226:Varanasi
36:Ajay Rai
18:Ajai Rai
1065:10 June
969:40.74%
943:36,077
940:21.88%
937:48,248
911:14.38%
885:42,425
882:23.58%
879:48,189
850:75,614
824:29.31%
821:52,863
783:27.50%
780:43,711
773:Kolasla
750:79,248
747:18.61%
706:28.27%
703:41,935
696:Kolasla
680:15,268
677:37.54%
674:56,454
667:Kolasla
648:26.67%
645:38,352
638:Kolasla
610:Margin
601:Result
547:Ganesha
472:Brahmin
323:in the
232:, India
195:Kolasla
1020:17 May
930:Pindra
872:Pindra
853:7.34%
827:9,218
814:Pindra
786:8,837
709:4,956
595:Party
521:Goonda
516:Pindra
268:Spouse
150:Pindra
101:Member
963:Lost
934:Lost
905:Lost
876:Lost
847:Lost
741:Lost
589:Year
81:
1449:2017
1397:2014
1245:2014
1067:2024
1022:2014
949:2024
920:2022
891:2019
862:2017
833:2014
818:Won
792:2012
777:Won
715:2009
700:Won
686:2007
671:Won
657:2002
651:488
642:Won
616:1996
470:and
456:Udal
454:MLA
210:Born
173:Udal
1305:DNA
1157:DNA
452:CPI
441:FIR
429:.
337:BJP
314:MLA
103:of
1489::
1425:.
1368:.
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1284:.
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1231:.
1213:.
1194:.
1175:.
1154:.
1136:.
1125:^
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1104:^
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1001:^
986:^
538:.
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375:.
228:,
218:)
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214:(
20:)
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