It may not be a saffron sweep in Mumbai

houses to 40 lakh slumdwellers, inept handling of the row over the Rent Control Act and the failure to provide jobs to unemployed youths, Congress’ electoral understanding with the Republican Party of India and Samajwadi Party, is posing a threat as three constituencies — South, North Central and North-East — will see straight contests.

In the last elections, Murli Deora, who was contestingfrom South Mumbai, lost to BJP’s Jaywantiben Mehta by a thin margin of 18,000 votes. But from the same constituency Samajwadi Party nominee Marzaban Patrawala had polled 48,224 votes. These votes this time could go to Deora. Also, Deora has already taken a lead by making the Rent Control Act a major electoral issue. To some extent, Deora has been able to establish that the alliance government had been unable to protect the interest of the tenants.

In North East, Gurudas Kamat of Congress is locked in a straight contest with BJP general secretary Pramod Mahajan. Mahajan had romped home last time with a 1.9-lakh margin. But then, Ramdas Athavale, the third important candidate in fray last time, polled 2.22 lakh votes. It is this factor that has raised the Congress’ hopes, but it remains to be seen if all the Dalit votes will actually land in Kamat’s lap. To Mahajan’s favour are his vice-like grip on major pockets like Matunga, Mahim and Chembur and the fact that he seems to have made a little headway withMuslims this time round. Of course, he would be drawing upon his stature as a prime mover in the BJP and a national leader to pull him through.

Ramdas Athavale this time is contesting from North Central constituency, where Shiv Sena nominee Narayan Athavale had polled 2.42 lakh votes against 94,729 polled by RPI’s B C Kamble and 1.53 lakh secured by Congress nominee Sharad Dighe in the last elections. The RPI-SP-Cong pact may just deliver the numbers to Athavale this time.

In the textile workers-dominated South Central constituency, Sena nominee Mohan Rawale appears to be in a comfortable position. Samajwadi Party has nominated sitting MLA Sohail Lokhandwala, while Janata Dal has nominated veteran trade union leader Sharad Rao. The division of votes between the two is likely to benefit Rawle. Significantly, Dada Samant, brother of slain textile workers leader Datta Samant, has extended support to Lokhandwala.North West parliamentary constituency will also witness a triangular contest between Sena’sMadhukar Sarpotdar, Janata Dal’s A A Khan and Samajwadi Party’s Tushar Gandhi. In view of the large number of Muslims voters here, Khan is sure to eat into Gandhi’s votes, who is a novice in politics.

In North Mumbai, BJP nominee Ram Naik, who is locked in a straight battle against Congress candidate Ram Pandagale, appears to be in a comfortable position.

Congress spokesman Vasant Chavan said owing his party’s alliance with the RPI and SP, Dalit as well as Muslim voters will exercise their franchise in favour of the Congress.

But Munde disputes the claim and says that that in view of the several steps taken by the alliance government for the welfare of Dalits and the minority, they will certainly stand by the alliance nominees.