Ajay Rai, Beni Verma, Khanduri and Pokhariyal file nomination

Congress' Ajay Rai who will take on Narendra Modi in Varanasi, Union minister Beni Prasad Verma, two former Uttarakhand chief ministers B C Khanduri and Ramesh Pokhariyal were among the prominent candidates who filed nominations today for the last two phases of Lok Sabha polls.
In Varanasi, Ajay Rai filed his papers after offering liquor to Lord Kaal Bhairav as per local tradition.
Rai is fighting against BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi and Aam Aadmi Party's Arvind Kejriwal, who are expected to file their nominations next week.
A total of four candidates filed papers for May 12 Lok Sabha polls in Varanasi.

Union minister and Congress leader Beni Prasad Verma filed nomination for Gonda Lok Sabha seat and claimed that Modi would be "sent to jail for his entire life" after Congress-led government is formed at the Centre.
In Uttarakhand, prominent among those who filed their nomination papers for the May 7 polling were BJP leaders Khanduri and Nishank, former chief minister Vijay Bahuguna's son Saket and daughter-in-law of erstwhile Tehri royal family Mala Rajya Laxmi Shah.
Khanduri and Nishank filed their nominations from Pauri and Haridwar seats respectively.
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh's wife Pratibha Singh filed her nomination from Mandi Parliamentary seat, from where she is seeking re-election for the third time.