'MNS will carry Cong through'

After readers predict Congress-NCP win in the Assembly elections, experts say it is because Raj Thackeray's three-year-old party will eat into BJP-Shiv Sena votes

After readers predict Congress-NCP win in the Assembly elections, experts say it is because Raj Thackeray's three-year-old party will eat into BJP-Shiv Sena votes

The Congress-NCP is likely to come back to power. That's what a majority of the 220 people that MiD DAY spoke to in Mumbai and Pune said yesterday.

And the reason why the anti-incumbency factor won't work is the MNS eating into the Shiv Sena's votes, hence improving the chances of the Congress-NCP combine. Over 50 per cent of the people spoke in favour of the Congress.

And the preference for the MNS (12 per cent in Mumbai and 20 per cent in Pune) compared to the Sena (26 per cent in Mumbai and 30 per cent in Pune) indicates Raj Thackeray's party eating into the vote bank of his former party.

MiD DAY's findings is corroborated by noted psephologist and political commentator Dilip Sarwate, who feels that MNS will play spoilsport for the BJP-Shiv Sena combine.

Poll Baby Poll:u00a0MNS president Raj Thackeray. While 120 voters were questioned in Mumbai, 100 voters were questioned in Pune

MUMBAI

PUNE

Independents' help

"My reading tells me that the Congress-NCP may fall short of a majority, but may come to power with the help of Independents."

According to Sarwate, in Pune, which has eight Assembly seats, the Shiv Sena-BJP may get around three seats, while the rest will could be distributed between the Congress-NCP and the MNS.

Sarvate says MNS is likely to win 15 seats in Maharashtra, 6-7 of which will be from the Marathi strongholds of Dadar, Parel and Thane, etc in Mumbai.

Voices

The Congress will come to power regardless of what the other parties do, as they have the power of money and better candidates.
Vinod Tambe (40) Government employee, Bandra

I voted for MNS because I believe it works for the Marathi manoos.
Deepika Oturkar (22) student, Pune

I voted for the BJP, as it's a clean party. I trust it more than the Congress.
Sanjay Oswal (26) Businessman, Pune

I voted for the MNS because it's a sincere party and I like its ideology.
Santosh Agavane (22) student, Pune

We've been supporting the Shiv Sena for the 25 years. They take up issues that affect the common man.
Yarnesh Kolhe (26) manager, Mumbai