Grammar

[Rag]

A sentence from an article in the Economist.
For the BJP to retake power at the centre, which to its amazement it lost in 2004, the party will have to do more than harangue Congress on terrorism while depending on the common habit of Indians to throw their governments out.

Do you see any problems with the grammatical construction ?
Should "Which" modify the "Centre" Is it modifying the phrase "power at the centre"

[esledge]

Usually, "which" relative clauses must immediately follow the modified noun.

This looks like one of the acceptable exceptions. Phrasing the modifier as a question, we ask "What did it lose to its amazement in 2004?" Answer: It lost power. But "power" alone may be too general. As you suggest, we need the whole phrase "power at the center" to convey the intended meaning, so there is no way to place the "which" modifier any closer. It's OK where it is, and is simply the 2nd modifier of "power," following the 1st modifier, "at the center."

[Rag]

Thank you.

[JonathanSchneider]

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