NCP leader Nawab Malik Friday expressed confidence that the grand alliance of opposition parties in Maharashtra will win over 28 of the total 48 seats if the situation witnessed during the first two phases of Lok Sabha polls in the state continued.
He said anti-incumbency was visible in the 17 constituencies that went to polls in the first two phases- on April 11 and 18.
Malik, who is the national spokesperson of the Sharad Pawar-led party, claimed that farmers, agrarian workers, youth, backward communities, tribals, Dalits and minorities were angry with the BJP-led governments at the Centre and in the state.
The next two phases of polling will be held on April 23 and April 29.
"The BJP and Shiv Sena are unsure if they will be able to win even four of the 17 seats, which went to polls in the first and second phases," Malik told reporters during a joint press conference with Congress leader Sachin Sawant here.
"Anti-incumbency was conspicuous in the constituencies where polling was held. We are witnessing a similar situation in the remaining seats in Western Maharashtra, Konkan and North Maharashtra (which go to polls in two more phases) too we are witnessing similar situation," he added.
The NCP leader claimed that four Union ministers from Maharashtra- Nitin Gadkari, Hansraj Ahir, Subhash Bhamre (all three of the BJP) and Anant Geete (Shiv Sena) were facing rough weather. "They may lose the election," he said.
Malik also said the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA), formed by Bharip Bahujan Mahasangh leader Prakash Ambedkar and AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi, would hurt the grand alliance's poll prospects.
The Congress and the NCP had earlier alleged that the VBA would divide anti-BJP votes, which would ultimately help the ruling party. However, the VBA had refuted the charge in the past.
"We are seeing some disturbances in Solapur, Akola and Aurangabad seats only. At other places, people have not accepted the VBA," he said.
Sawant said the Congress was set to win the Solapur seat, from where its septuagenarian leader Sushilkumar Shinde is in the fray. Ambedkar also contested the election from Solapur constituency.
"Our feedback is that the VBA will be relegated to the third position there," he said.
Sawant also said that the Congress would approach the Election Commission to seek details of the police deployment made across constituencies.
He alleged that in the first two rounds of polling, the police deployment was "heavy" in areas where the opposition parties have a strong presence.
"And police were deployed in negligible numbers in areas where they (the BJP) felt they were better placed. We have taken note of it and approaching the EC," he added.
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