MUMBAI: In view of the lowest polling recently in all the six constituencies in Mumbai for the Lok Sabha seats, political analysts have predicted that the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) would only be able to win three out of the six seats.
The candidates and voters are keeping their fingers crossed, as the percentage of voting has been very poor, mainly due to the humid and hot climate, which badly affected the voter turnout. The Congress party, which had won five seats in the last Lok Sabha, will have to forego two seats, the analysts say.
Analysts told Arab News, however, that indications are there that the Shiv Sena-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidates former federal Railway Minister Ram Naik (BJP), former Maharashtra Home Minister Gajanan Kirtikar (Shiv Sena) and former member of Parliament Kirit Sommaya (BJP) are likely to win elections hands down.
The Congress-Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) candidates Priya Dutt, Eknath Gaikwad and Milind Deora (all Congress) are also expected to win by huge majority, the analysts said adding that Manmohan Singh continues to be the first preference of the voters in Mumbai for the prime ministerial post.
Analysts also said that Shiv Sena candidate Mohan Rawale who earlier had the distinction of being elected to the Lok Sabha five times, is likely to face defeat this time. The BJP did not have a single candidate elected during the last election. But this time it is expected that two BJP candidates are all set to win elections.
BJP candidate Ram Naik is expected to win the election from the Mumbai North constituency, with Congress candidate Sanjay Nirapum and Samajwadi Party state unit chief Abu Asim Azmi likely to be defeated. From Mumbai North-West constituency, Shiv Sena candidate Gajanan Kirtikar is predicted to win.
