‘Is PM Modi from Varanasi?’ Manish Tewari replies to Sanjay Tandon’s ‘outsider’ jibe over his Chandigarh nomination

Tewari was quick to claim he is a “born Chandigarhian”. “While I usually do not dignify gibberish with a response. This is a Parliament election, not a Municipal Corporation election. This is a battle for the soul of the nation. Is Prime Minister Narendra Modi from Varanasi? Moreover, I am a born Chandigarhian and, therefore, have a better claim to the DNA of the city rather than anybody else,” Tewari told The Indian Express.

Tandon stated that “he aligns with the city residents and connects heart to heart” with them as he has been with them in every problem of theirs.

However, Tewari’s supporters said “Tandon was born in Amritsar while Manish (was born) in Chandigarh”.

On this, the BJP candidate said, “Somebody who is born in Pakistan ruled the country. Will there be a question then? Ask them to find out where Manmohan Singh was born. I studied since 8th standard onwards here in Chandigarh and have been with the people of Chandigarh in every problem of theirs.”

Tandon added, “I have been going from door to door… and there is a heart-to-heart connect with people. That is why they began the campaign ‘Hamara Sanjay Tandon’. People of the city align with me.”

On Saturday, the Congress declared Tewari as the candidate for Chandigarh parliamentary constituency. Tewari was sent to contest from Anandpur Sahib in 2019 from where he won. Born and brought up in Chandigarh, he had shown his intent to contest from Chandigarh from 2009 onwards.

Tandon, son of Punjab BJP leader and late Governor of Chhattisgarh Balram Das Tandon, had been trying to contest Lok Sabha elections since 2014. However, Kirron Kher was given the ticket. This time, Tandon has been given a chance by the party.

Resignations in Congress

Upset over former Union minister Pawan Kumar Bansal not being declared as the candidate from Chandigarh, secretary of the city unit resigned saying an “outsider wasn’t accepted”.

Nitin Rai Chauhan, secretary of Chandigarh Territorial Congress Committee, stated that he is resigning from the post of secretary for Pawan Kumar Bansal as he can’t “accept outsider as our Lok Sabha candidate”.

Opposition began brewing against Chandigarh Congress president H S Lucky as supporters of Bansal said that “it was due to Chandigarh Congress president” that “Tewari got the opportunity”.