This Article is From May 14, 2009

Saffron Gandhi's biggest test

Saffron Gandhi's biggest test
Pilibhit:

Varun Gandhi assumed the role of the BJP's Hindutva poster boy in these elections. Pilibhit decided on Wednesday whether it wants him to represent the constituency in the Lok Sabha.

Will Varun's Pilibhit gamble pay off? Varun's hardline campaign is based on one assumption that Hindus in Pilibhit would cut across caste lines and vote for him. BJP insiders expect him to win by an even bigger margin than Maneka Gandhi.

"He is the star campaigner of the BJP, wherever he goes people are after him," a supporter says.

It is not just Pilibhit, Varun was asked to campaign in all areas surrounding Pilibhit. In Aonla, now Maneka Gandhi's constituency, and Bareilly. For a young man, who is not even a MP yet, he suddenly was being talked of as the BJP's most charismatic face after Narendra Modi.

But will this polarisation work? Analysts say the BJP is likely to better its 2004 performance. The party's assessment gives it between 25-28 seats in UP -- mainly because of a shift in Brahmin vote. But what of the 13 lakh Muslim voters of Pilibhit? They form a critical 30% of total voters, who seem completely stacked against Varun.

"Our vote should not go waste. That's all I want," says a woman voter.

Varun formula is not new. The BJP successfully tried it following the Ram wave in the 90's. But this is 2009 and it is a very different Uttar Pradesh. Pilibhit has spoken today. We'll know if they accept or reject Varun's communal card on the 16th of May.

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