How much will the attacks on the churches and the Shri Ram Sene's assault on women in a city pub hurt the BJP's chances?
Mahendra Kumar, the Bajrang Dal's state chief, declares, "The BJP candidate is a Hindutva worker and all Hindus in the constituency will vote for him."
Shri Ram Sene chief Pramod Muthalik, intriguingly, sings another tune. "Poojary will win without a doubt. Diverting from the Hindutva angle will hurt the BJP very badly this time. The Sene has decided to stay away from politics. We have taken a neutral stance and decided not to campaign or support anyone," he says.
Dr V S Acharya, Karnataka's voluble home minister, declares, "Every community knows how well the BJP government in Karnataka has handled every issue. I have spoken to voters and they are proud of us.'
Anwar Manipaddy, vice-president of the BJP's minority cell, claims a hate campaign has been initiated against the BJP. "I have visited many constituencies and the Muslims in the state know they have been taken for a ride by the Congress. They have realised that communal clashes occur more when the Congress is in power. From 1948 there have been 3,368 communal clashes of which 3,311 have taken place during the Congress regime."
"I can say with confidence that at least 15 per cent of Muslims will vote for the BJP," he says. "The talk of the Muslims rejecting a Parivar man is rubbish. I am sure my community feels safer under a Parivar man."
Image: Clashes followed the attack on churches in Karnataka in September 2008.
Also see: 'I did not get a ticket because of my father' | India Votes 2009
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