Poll schedule baffles party workers

Congress sources said it was not expected that the assembly polls would be held along with Lok Sabha polls. However, the party workers said that it cannot be construed that the political atmosphere is favourable to the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance. The situation will change at the eleventh hour and there will be straight fights between the two Congress parties, the party workers believe.

Congress sources claimed that the simultaneous polls would not help the alliance. It is said that a large number of youths are expected to support the NCP. It is said that the Shiv Sena is facing problems is Mumbai although its prospects are slightly better in the Konkan region. The party workers expressed surprise as to how Balasaheb Thackeray who was opposed to holding simultaneous elections had later conceded to hold both the elections together.

The Congress workers believe that the Lok Sabha polls will lead to a hung parliament and that the NCP will not win more than 10 to 12 Lok Sabha seats in the state. It is felt that after the polls, the NCP will support the BJP at the Centre and this will lead to the BJP snapping its ties with the Shiv Sena in the State.

The NCP workers, however, believe that the split in the Congress will not benefit the saffron alliance and claim that ultimately the NCP will emerge victorious. They said that the Congress does not have candidates who can ensure victory for the party.

The BJP has now undertaken a campaign to make its party workers aware of the achievements of the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance government in the State. Accordingly, the party has planned to organise workshops of its party workers. At these workshops party’s ministers will brief the participants of the work done by the government.

Since the elections are being conducted during the monsoon, all the parties will have to work hard to reach out to the voters, and ensure that maximum number of persons turn out for voting.