'Hydrogen bomb in Varanasi': Rahul Gandhi's next vote theft 'expose' may be on PM Modi's seat; UP Congress chief Ajay Rai drops hint

NEW DELHI: Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Ajay Rai on Tuesday claimed that Rahul Gandhi’s “hydrogen bomb” will go off in Varanasi — suggesting that the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha may expose alleged “vote chori” (vote theft) on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s parliamentary seat.Also Read | BJP manipulated 2024 LS polls, won Kashi through ‘vote theft’: Ajay Rai"Like our leader (Rahul Gandhi) said yesterday, after his 'atom bomb' expose on Bengaluru's Mahadevapura assembly seat, we will now explode 'hydrogen bomb'. Which is the most powerful bomb? Hydrogen bomb. Such a bomb should explode at the most important place. Now it's obvious what happened in Banaras (Varanasi) after 1 pm (on June 4 - day of Lok Sabha election counting). PM Modi cheated to win," Rai told reporters.He clarified, however, that he had not spoken to Gandhi on the matter and that these were his own views."It's obvious, isn't it, what he (Gandhi) was hinting at," Rai added.Ex-Congress president Gandhi had made the “hydrogen bomb” remark at a mega rally in Patna on Monday, which marked the culmination of his 16-day state-wide tour of poll-bound Bihar. Throughout his tour, he reiterated his "vote chort" charge against the Election Commission and BJP."I showed 'atom bomb' to expose the vote theft in Mahadevapura but now I am coming out soon with a more powerful 'hydrogen bomb' to make the whole country aware about the truth of vote theft," he told the Patna gathering.The RaeBareli MP then directly targeted PM Modi, saying the prime minister “would not be able to face the public” after the revelation. PM Modi’s victory margin in Varanasi—where he was elected to the Lok Sabha for a third consecutive term—was his lowest so far. He secured 54 per cent of the vote, compared with 64 per cent in 2014 and 56 per cent in 2019. Rai, who contested against him, polled 41 per cent, a significant rise from just 7 per cent when he finished third in 2014.