Priority is to defeat Narendra Modi, Rahul Gandhi: Arvind Kejriwal to NDTV

Varanasi: Arvind Kejriwal, the chief of Aam Aadmi Party, today announced that he will contest next month's national elections from Varanasi against BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi. Earlier in the day, speaking exclusively to NDTV, Mr Kejriwal said that he was confident of defeating Mr Modi.

Here are the highlights of the interview:

• Don't see Banaras as a losing battle, will defeat Narendra Modi
• Yes I am an outsider to Banaras but this is not a local election
• Banaras and Amethi are the only two contests that matter in this election
• Our priority must be to have Narendra Modi and Rahul Gandhi defeated
• This election is going to be the turning point in the politics of India
• In 2014, the people must defeat Rahul Gandhi and Narendra Modi... there will then be a churning in the politics of India... elections will be held again within a year and those elections will get good people to Parliament, stability to the country
• This election is extraordinary, it is about saving the country
  
• No one has approached me to be a united candidate against Narendra Modi
• I am not going to ask other parties for support, let them decide if they want a united candidate
• Yes I was an atheist, but the last three years have turned me into a believer
• Unfair to see my Ganga snan as a political image
• I will stay in politics for change even if I lose Banaras
• Election Commission's order on gas pricing vindicates our position
• Narendra Modi must clarify, did he write a letter saying gas should be priced at $16?
• The central issue across India is the same. They want honest politics
• The whole city will volunteer for me, this is their elections
  
• I don't have to think what I'll do if I lose. People have to think what they'll do if I lose.
• I will be in politics, continue to fight against corruption
• No one has approached me to be a consensus candidate