Keeping grudges aside

The Congress, which perceives this election as a "secular versus communal" fight, is proudly highlighting the example of its Varanasi seat. While Narendra Modi may be the star candidate there, the Congress is taking heart from the fact that "to support the secular cause", Qaumi Ekta Dal chief Mukhtar Ansari has extended support to its candidate Ajay Rai. This, despite the fact that Ansari is an accused in the murder of Rai's elder brother, Krishnanand Rai. "Two families have come together keeping aside their enmity... This is unprecedented," said a senior party leader. Ansari is no lightweight. He had contested the 2009 polls on a Bahujan Samaj Party ticket against the BJP's Murli Manohar Joshi, and lost by just 17,000 votes.