KOCHI: Although both the fronts categorically deny chances of any increase in the vote share of BJP candidates in the Kochi corporation polls, the percentage of votes polled in favour of the BJP will be the deciding factor.
UDF leaders secretly admit that votes secured by BJP candidates will be crucial in many wards. Voting pattern of new voters also is significant, especially in those divisions where there is a close fight.
This time, the total number of voters in Kochi Corporation is 4,08,941 of which around 10,000 are new voters. How the vote share of youngsters will pan out will be significant for all political parties.
The total number of voters in Ernakulam district is 23,790,87 of which 11, 676,70 are men and 12, 11,417 are women. In Kochi, the BJP contested in 34 divisions in 2010 polls and their vote share was only six per cent of the total turnout.
“Apart from their traditional bastions like Cheralayi and Ernakula-m Central, the BJP is likely to significantly increase their vote share which will influence the poll outcome in some other divisions like Giri Nagar and Amaravathi,” admits a senior Congress leader.
However, both the UDF and LDF publicly claim that the BJP–SNDP alliance and chances of any increase in the saffron party’s vote share would not have any impact on poll outcome.
Meanwhile, BJP insiders told DC that compared to 2010 elections, the party would deliver a stunning performance in terms of vote share and number of winners. “There will be substantial increase in the vote share of the party compared with what we got in 2010. It could cross 25 per cent this time,” claimed party sources.
During 2010 elections, the BJP could send two of its members to the corporation council, senior leader Shyamala S. Prabhu from Cheralayi and Sudha Dileep Kumar from Ernakulam Central.
The total votes polled by Shyamala Prabhu was 2,062 while her opponent could secure only 738 votes. Sudha Dileep Kumar won the seat by securing 1,388 votes as against 1,064 votes polled by the Congress candidate.
