Modi's rally in coastal region could upset C0ngress' poll strategy

All eyes will be on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's rally to be held here on May 5 as it could upset the Congress' poll strategy in Dakshina Kannada district, hit by communal polarisation.

While the Congress is going all out to retain its hold on the coastal district of Karnataka, its candidates believe that the upcoming rally by Modi could influence voters in favour of the BJP and their calculations need to be reworked.

To offset the impact of the rally, the Congress will look at ways of getting disgruntled party workers, unhappy about ticket distribution, on board, leaders said.

Efforts will be made to intensify campaigns in the last few days, with door to door canvassing as well as mobilising support at the booth level, they said.

"There was not much impact of Modi's rally during the last elections. Now, he is visiting as PM. I feel there would be an impact either way," Congress' candidate from Mangalore constituency and incumbent state food minister U T Khader told PTI in an interview.

Modi's rally would influence voters to some extent but not to the BJP's expectation, he said.

"The impact will be 5 per cent plus or minus," the Congress leader said.

Khader, contesting for the fourth time, claimed that he has reined in communal clashes in his constituency but attacked the BJP for "trying to polarise the elections and playing the Hindutva card".

Confident of winning with a huge margin this election, too, Khader said, "There is no anti-incumbency in my constituency. If any sitting MLA loses, it is because of individual problems and not the party's problem."
Congress candidate from Mangalore North Mohiuddin Bava said, "There is a Modi wave, I agree. But I am confident of winning. It is a big victory if a Muslim gets re-elected from a constituency that has only 20 per cent minorities."
However, Dakishna Kannada district in-charge and state forest minister Ramanath Pai, who is contesting for the eighth time from Bantwal, said, "There is no Modi wave at all."