Karnataka - Bidar   

Low voter turnout will help JD(S): Merajuddin Patel

BIDAR: President of State unit of the Janata Dal (Secular) Merajuddin Patel on Sunday claimed that the less voting percentage in the first phase of the Assembly elections in the State would fetch more number of seats for the party.

He told The Hindu that Janata Dal (Secular) had its base in rural areas and the voting percentage had been less in urban areas where the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress are strong.

Mr. Patel said: “If less voting percentage proved costly for prospects of the BJP, the Congress would suffer on account of the Bahujan Samaj Party candidates in the fray.”

Mr. Patel said that poor people and farmers are the strength of his party.

When pointed out that his brother, Naseemoddin Patel, was contesting on a BSP ticket in Bidar South seat against the former Minister Bandeppa Kashmepur, Janata Dal (Secular) nominee, Mr. Patel replied: “He will lose his zilla panchayat membership and would be expelled from the party.”

He said: “I will campaign for Mr. Kashempur in the constituency and see that the official party nominee wins.”

Asked on his chances in the election, Mr. Patel said that the fight was not “tough” for him, as he had the backing of all communities in the constituency. He, however, said that there was a direct fight between the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Janata Dal (Secular) in the constituency. He took dig at his rivals for carrying out false campaign against him in the constituency and approaching voters not to vote for a Muslim candidate.

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