Another section that will do more than its bit is the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and the numerous groups directly and indirectly affiliated to it. Here the buzzword is Sanatan Dharma – but it’s being played very carefully and only in select circles. The BJP is more than aware that religion cannot be a poll plank anymore, but they are also equally conscious of the fact that there is a vote bank there, a fairly substantial one at that in a place like Varanasi. “Modi-ji has been sent to be the protector of Sanatan Dharma – all the Brahmins will aggressively vote for him”, Jitendra Anand Saraswati, the general secretary of the Ganga Mahasabha says. Saraswati, who claims to be non-political, knows his political numbers very well as is apparent when I ask him if Arvind is going to benefit from Mukhtar Ansari’s – the Muslim vote magnet of the region – withdrawal. “Varanasi has a total of 17 lakh voters, out of which only 2.5 lakh are Muslims. Muslims in Varanasi are divided into many groups, who constantly fight with each other. In fact, each group has more than one leader, each with different personal allegiances. So the Muslim vote will get divided – and it’ll benefit no one”, he declares. “Wait and watch tomorrow – you’ll see who Varanasi will vote for.”