Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar to contest Lok Sabha election from Varanasi against PM Narendra Modi

Azad had recently said that his outfit would field strong candidates against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union minister Smriti Irani if the opposition failed to pose a challenge to the top leaders.

Earlier, Azad had demanded the anti-BJP block to "strengthen" its battle against the "saffron forces"./ AFP/ FILE

NEW DELHI: Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad on Friday announced that in the Lok Sabha Election 2019, he will be contesting from Varanasi constituency against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The announcement was done by Chandrashekhar during 'Bahujan Hunkar Rally' in Delhi's Jantar Mantar Road today. The Bhim Army has gained traction among Dalit youths in western Uttar Pradesh. Azad had recently said that his outfit would field strong candidates against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union minister Smriti Irani if the opposition failed to pose a challenge to the top leaders. He also demanded the anti-BJP block to "strengthen" its battle against the "saffron forces". The 33-year-old leader had also said that he would contest against Modi from Varanasi if the SP-BSP alliance failed to field a strong candidate in the PM's constituency. Earlier on Wednesday, Chandrashekhar was booked on charges of assaulting public servants and defying their orders besides rioting along with his supporters in their bid to take out a political rally in UP. The FIR registered at the Deoband police station against Azad has also named his 27 supporters, besides over 150 other unknown persons. Azad was arrested Tuesday at Deoband in Saharanpur but had to be admitted in a hospital in Meerut after he was taken ill. Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra Wednesday met Azad at the hospital. The unscheduled visit is being seen in political circles as an attempt to woo the Dalits in Uttar Pradesh and pit Azad against the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP). Priyanka Gandhi, however, said no political motive should be imputed to her meeting with Azad. Talking to reporters after Gandhi left the hospital, the Bhim Army chief maintained that he did not talk about politics with the Congress leader during their meeting. "I got to know about it (Priyanka's visit) from the media. She had come to enquire about my well being. I am not a political person...I am struggling for the 'bahujan samaj'. She had not come to talk about politics nor did she ask me anything political," he said. ALSO WATCH: BSP chief Mayawati not to contest 2019 Lok Sabha elections, will campaign for Mulayam