While Mukhtar's 'electoral sacrifice" by pulling out of the race is not being commented upon by the Congress, the Samajwadi Party (SP), the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and the AAP, insiders say covert operations are on for a common strategy consensus.
Meanwhile, the Lok Dal has also pitched in for Zakia Zafri, the widow of former Congress MP from Gujarat Ehsaan who was burnt alive by a mob in the aftermath of the 2002 Godhra riots.
National president of Lok Dal Chowdhary Sunil Singh told IANS he has been impressed by the gusto of Jafri in fighting the legal battle against Modi and her effort to garner poll consensus. "I have written to Sonia Gandhi, Mulayam Singh Yadav and Mayawati, seeking their support for her candidature ... let's see when and how they respond," he said.
Ajay Rai, a sitting Congress legislator who has been fielded against Modi here has pulled out all stops in his campaign and is playing his Bhumihar card pretty well. The caste with a sizable presence in Varanasi, other than the Muslims, can make or mar electoral fortunes. Till now rubbished as an "also ran", BJP campaign managers are no longer ignoring Rai.
No wonder Amit Shah, closest aide of Modi, Saturday raked up the criminal antecedents of Rai and alleged he even tried to procure an AK-47 some time back. "Sad that the Congress found no clean candidate against Narendrabhai" Shah told IANS in Lucknow while claiming the Gujarat chief minister faced no threat in Varanasi.
