MIM, MEP presence to benefit BJP?

Belagavi: The entry of Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul Muslimeen (MIM) and Mahila Empowerment Party (MEP) into the poll fray in Vijayapura City constituency is expected to lead to an interesting clash in the coming polls as votes of Muslims are the deciding factor here. 

With an eye on the Muslim vote, both outfits are gearing up to field their candidates and are busy holding campaigns across the constituency for last some weeks. MIM is certain to field candidates in three of the eight constituencies in Vijayapura district too after seeing the massive support for all its political events.

To bolster its chances, MIM has launched ‘Ghar Ghar Majlis’, a campaign aimed at reaching out to voters in a particular locality. According to sources, member of Vijayapura Urban Development Authority, Bablu Peerzade is being projected as the likely MIM candidate for Vijayapura.  MIM leaders say  the party's ‘Hyderabad high command' has given its nod to Peerzade’s candidature. However, another MIM ticket aspirant, advocate Sayad Khadri, who is fighting for protection of heritage monuments in Vijayapura, is also in the race for the party ticket. 

As for the MEP, headed by diamond merchant Nowhera Shaik, it conducted a massive event in Vijayapura giving enough indications that it may field a candidate from the city. Dr Nowhera launched her party’s activities in Vijayapura a few weeks ago. Youth leader Sadik Loni is a strong contender for MEP ticket.

The contest in Vijayapura will no doubt be interesting as the BJP has fielded MLC Basangouda Patil Yatnal, who is a known as a firebrand pro-Hindu leader with the ability to swing a major chunk of votes. After he failed to get a BJP ticket, he was able to register a landslide victory in the MLC election from Bijapur-Bagalkot local bodies constituency as an Independent. The entry of MIM will ensure  a triangular contest between sitting MLA Maqbool Bagwan of Congress, Yatnal and the MIM candidate.

At present, Yatnal has an edge over his rivals as the Muslim votes are likely to be split between the Congress and MIM. Mr Bagwan had defeated Appu Pattanshetti of BJP in the previous election with the help of the Muslim votes in Vijayapura.