Polls debate: Raebareli leader, instead of Modi, to face Rahul Gandhi

New Delhi: BJP accepted the invitation for a public debate with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi but chose Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha's vice president Abhinav Prakash instead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Asian News International reported.

It must be noted that the invitation was precisely for Modi to represent the BJP against Rahul, though the invitation said that both leaders could send representatives instead of them attending in person.

The invitation for the debate on key election issues was sent by two former Supreme Court Justices, Madan B Lokur, Justice Ajit P Shah, and journalist-cum former chief of The Hindu, N Ram.

Abhinav Prakash's name was nominated by Tejasvi Surya, the BJYM president, who said that the former is from a Dalit caste, Pasi. They make up a significant proportion of over 30% of the scheduled caste population in Raebareli, where Rahul Gandhi is contesting in the current Lok Sabha election.

Tejasvi Surya elaborated on Abhinav Prakash's credentials. He wrote, "He is not only a distinguished leader within our youth wing but also an articulate spokesperson for the policies and reforms implemented by our government. An alumnus of Jawaharlal Nehru University and an assistant professor of economics at Delhi University's Ramjas College, with previous teaching stints at SRCC, his profound understanding of social, economic, and political dynamics is poised to enrich the debate significantly."

After the mentioned trio invited Rahul Gandhi and Narendra Modi, the former gave them a reply expressing his readiness to attend the debate, either by himself or through Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge.

Gandhi wrote, "It would be a positive initiative for the major parties to present their vision to the country from one platform for a healthy democracy. Congress welcomes this initiative and accepts the invitation for discussion. The country also expects the Prime Minister to take part in this dialogue," ANI quoted the letter.