Udupi: The Bajrang Dal ban proposal on the Congress Manifesto has had its effects. A group of clerics, Muslim leaders of many mosques in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi have sent a message to their cadres to support Congress party instead of SDPI.
According to sources in the SDPI and various Jamath level councils the message has been clear to support Congress since the Muslims wanted Bajrang Dal and other Hindu organisations to be banned, and whichever party that follows anti-Hindu activism must be supported.
This development has come both as a boon and a bane to the Congress party, as the party may get branded as a Muslim party, and many Hindu voters belonging to many castes and communities may shift to the BJP. On the other hand, many Muslim groups who were trying to influence SDPI activists to lie low for this elections may drop their plans to support SDPI and polarise with the Congress party increasing their vote earning.