Will the smaller parties have an impact in Karnataka: None say the experts

The fight in Karnataka is at a feverish pitch. While the BJP, Congress and Janata Dal (S) are locked in a three-corner fight, it would be interesting to see what the change can the small parties bring in.

The Nationalist Congress party (NCP), much to the surprise of the Congress, its ally in Maharashtra has decided to contest on 45 seats. A final decision on this is expected by the end of the day. The other smaller party in the fray is the SDPI, the political of the banned Popular Front of India (PFI).

The SDPI is no political novice in Karnataka and has six members I the Ullal city municipal council, and two corporations in the Mangalore city corporation. The AIADMK too has expressed its intention to contest on 10 seats

In addition to these smaller parties, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) too is in the fray. While there are loads of reports in the media that these smaller parties can upset the apple cart of the three main parties, experts feel otherwise. One expert who has been following Karnataka for the past three decades and who did not want to be named said that these parties do not make any difference. The AIMM however could make a very small difference in some pockets of Mysuru and Gulbarga. Apart from that I do not see any contest from them. He also said that the SDPI could make a small difference to the prospects of the Congress in the coastal region.

Dr. Sandeep Shastri who follows Karnataka very closely too shared the same view as the expert cited above. "Historically these parties have had a marginal presence. The NCP has never won a seat and does not have any traction in Karnataka. The fact that the Maharashtra Ekikarna Samithi (MES) did not win a single seat in the Belagavi region is indicative that the Marathi issue does not have traction here," he also said.

On the question whether the AAP would make any difference here, Dr. Shastri took the example of its electoral wins in Delhi and Punjab. IN Punjab and Delhi, where the AAP has done ground work for the past ten years. However, I do not see that in the case of Karnataka, he says.

The AIMM on the other hand can have some impact where the Muslim vote bank is higher. However that is only in some pockets, he added.