Priyanka denies Modi challenge report

Priyanka Gandhi, daughter of India's Congress party chief Sonia Gandhi, has denied reports that she ever planned to contest elections against the main opposition BJP's Narendra Modi. A newspaper report on Monday said the party leadership had dissuaded her from contesting from the city of Varanasi. The ongoing general election pits the ruling Congress party against the BJP. In Varanasi, Mr Modi, the BJP's PM candidate, is being challenged by anti-corruption campaigner Arvind Kejriwal. Mr Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi (Common Man's) Party, which secured a spectacular result in local polls in Delhi last year, offers a challenge to the two main parties. Last week, the Congress nominated local politician Ajay Rai as its candidate from Varanasi. The nine-phase vote began on Monday and will conclude on 12 May. Votes will be counted on 16 May. More than 814 million Indians are eligible to vote in the polls, according to BBC.