The Bharatiya Janata Party is exceeding its ambition by fielding its prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi from unfamiliar terrain in Varanasi. Notwithstanding an image build-up, Modi faces a clear risk in the face of the combined onslaught of entrenched regional players. But for the Sangh Parivar, Modi is a mere foot soldier in their march towards a larger goal. Any resultant loss of face of its "poll-star" Modi in the Uttar Pradesh seat would be anything but collateral damage. However, to ensure that their icon remains the face of its national venture, Modi has been given a "safe" haven in his native Gujarat, even if riding on two seats does dim the aura of its candidate for the prime minister's chair.
R Narayanan, Ghaziabad
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