SC leader says he will contest against Modi in Varanasi

Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra visits Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad at a hospital, in Meerut on Wednesday. PTI

Scheduled Caste leader and Bheem Army president Chandrashekhar, alias Ravan, on Wednesday announced that he would be contesting against prime minister Narendra Modi in the Varanasi Lok Sabha constituency.

Chandrashekhar, who wields considerable influence over the Scheduled Caste community in Uttar Pradesh's Saharanpur and some other western UP districts, has been recuperating at a hospital after having been admitted on Monday after he was taken into custody for taking out a procession without permission.

"I have taken a pledge to fight against Modi... it does not matter if I don't get support from any party," he said.