Opponents plan to slice up Modi's Varanasi pie

Sources said Kejriwal has "come to Varanasi in a battle mode" and decided to give Modi a fight that the latter "would remember".

He has already held secret meetings with Hindu seers at the Tulsighat guest house, adjacent to the fabled Sankat Mochan temple. He has also held discussions with Shaher Qazi Ghulam Yaseen, seeking his community's support at the hustings.

Many leaders are now frequenting the Tilbhandeshwar residence of the Muslim cleric to get his support for the opposition against Modi, who will file his nomination papers from Varanasi April 24.

Kejriwal is also trying to strike a chord with the "aam aadmi" through his mohalla sabhas and nukkad meetings.

He has since met Dalits and others at Basti Maldahiya. While conceding the dim chances of trouncing Modi, AAP strategists told IANS the party idea is to fight to the finish. If this gives BJP leaders sleepless nights, so be it, chuckles a senior AAP leader.