In Maharashtra, small parties harbour big hopes

MUMBAI: In Maharashtra, the split in grand alliances has pumped up the expectations of small parties. They hope to win more seats in multi-cornered contests and play a decisive role in government-making, while rubbishing exit-poll results that predict them to have a smaller combined number than last time in the state assembly.
More than 30 small parties had put up their candidates in the assembly elections, results of which will become clear on Sunday. Popular exit-polls suggest the BJP to emerge as the largest party in the 288-member assembly, and, in one case, even with enough MLAs to form the government on its own. The BJP and Shiv Sena, and the Congress and Nationalist Congress Party had broken up their alliances just before the elections.

The exit polls predict between five and 22 seats for independents and parties other than the big four. In the last assembly, they had 40. Most of these parties and some analysts don't agree with the predictions. In many constituencies, multicornered contests have aligned voters in favour of smaller parties such as the All India Majlis-Ittehadul-Muslimeen, Bahujan Vikas Aaghadi and Swabhimani Paksh, said Dhawal Vasavada, election research manager at Political Edge, a Gurgaon-based consultancy that handled the poll campaign for several candidates.

"Such vote alignment has upped the chances of candidates who were not expecting to contest the elections on such a strong wicket." The Bahujan Vikas Aaghadi party is expecting to win up to five of the 25 seats it contested from. The party had two MLAs in the outgoing assembly. Exit polls are difficult to believe, said party president and former MLA Hitendra Thakur, who contested from Vasai this time.

The BJP could be the single largest party, but coming with majority is unlikely to happen, he said. And, which party would he support in case of a hung assembly? "Until now I have supported secular parties and I will continue to be with them."