In the recently held Mangalore City Corporation polls, 11 parties had fielded their candidates. However, the most surprising was the emergence of SDPI, which in its maiden contest bagged one seat in the MCC that too defeating the seating Mayor.
A possibility of same scenario cropping up even in Assembly polls cannot be ruled out. In case it happens then the Congress, which is already confident of its victory in Assembly polls too, will have to lose its face.
The SDPI's votes are undoubtedly from the 'muslim vote bank' of the Congress. The JD(S) and the Communist parties have their own section of voters. Though these may sum up to some thousands, it will only provide brighter chances for the BJP. Despite the fact that the KJP and the BSR Congress have been the result of revolt against the BJP, they will have impact only on the Congress because the two new parties have been calling themselves as secular and have not been entertaining people from the BJP.
The SDPI leaders have said that they will field candidates in all the constituencies after joining hands with the BSP. During the MCC polls, the SDPI had fielded candidates in eight wards but after withdrawal of candidature, only four contested the polls. The SDPI leaders said that they withdrew candidates because they did not want to divide secular votes, which means that the SDPI is ready to divide secular votes in wards of their interest.
The SDPI is showing up in a big way and if the sources are to be believed, one of the influential Congress leaders from the district has reportedly met the SDPI national leaders and urged them not to field candidate against him.
With Muslim League, Welfare Party and others also targeting Congress votes, the BJP might have a reason to rejoice.
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