SDPI extends support to JD(S); aims to woo minority vote-bank

Mysore-Kodagu constituency has around 2.4 lakh minority votes

The Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI), which has entered into an alliance with the JD(S) in the Mysore-Kodagu Lok Sabha constituency, aims to attract 2.4 lakh minority votes, said SDPI state unit vice-president Shabbir Mustaffa.

Speaking to Deccan Herald, Mustaffa said, the Congress party has been acting like the only ‘well-wisher’ of the minorities and has been exploiting the people. So far none of its promises have been fulfilled, so is the case with the BJP-led NDA government.

After a round of talks with JD(S) supremo H D Deve Gowda, we decided to enter into an alliance and join the third front.

He said, the SDPI’s achievement during the last Assembly polls, in Mysore, has been commendable. It sent a strong message that the minority voters are neither pro-Congress nor with the BJP.

It can be recalled that the SDPI candidate lost to MLA Tanveer Sait with a margin of just 6,000 votes in the Narasimharaja constituency, pushing the BJP to the third place. While, Mustaffa, who contested from Chamaraja constituency managed to secure 5,000 votes.

Earlier, there was hope that Congress leader Jaffer Sharief would join the JD(S) and contest from the Mysore-Kodagu constituency. When it did not happen, we insisted that the JD(S) does not field any incumbent MLA from the district, but field a high-calibre and eminent personality,” he said, adding that Chandrashekaraiah was SDPI’s choice.

The Mysore-Kodagu constituency, comprising eight Assembly constituencies, has around 2.4 minority votes.

The major pockets are Narasimharaja, Hunsur, Periyapatna and some parts of Kodagu constituencies. The SDPI workers will independently canvass in their respective segments, he said.

Recalling the proposal of the Congress to setup the Tipu Sultan University, he said, it was a mere gimmick and the community members understand the agenda behind it.