Ranchi, Nov. 24: Star-studded campaign shows over, now the BJP and the Congress are posed for a fight with the saffron party aspiring to score a hat-trick and the Congress hoping to gain lost ground in the prestigious Ranchi seat.

The battle for the segment, going to polls tomorrow in the first-phase, appears to be a bipolar one with JMM nominee Md Sarfuddin’s power to affect the election outcome remaining doubtful.

The contest will be a direct one between sitting BJP MLA C.P. Singh and Congress nominee Pradeep Tulsyan, who wooed voters through extensive door-to-door campaigns till yesterday afternoon.

“I would vote for Singh who has done a good job during his stint. Moreover, he is available when needed,” said Sajjan Lohia, a businessman who runs a cloth shop in Upper Bazaar. Lohia, who is a Marwari and Tulsyan’s caste man, also believe that religion is a factor while choosing a representative. As far as coalition dynamics is concerned, BJP ally JD(U) has little presence here. So, it will be a BJP show. “I will win with a record margin,” said Singh.

Tulsyan, contesting the seat for the first time, is considered to be a “sincere” worker being backed by Union food processing minister Subodh Kant Sahay, who won the Ranchi parliamentary seat in April 2009 Lok Sabha elections.

Sahay does enjoy the patronage of an elite class of voters and Muslims, but JMM’s Md Sarfuddin is expected to eat into the minority vote bank.

Tulsyan conceded that his will be a fight with Singh, but added that he will be in a comfortable position. “Ranchi is a city which could do with better civic amenities. There is urgent need to improve traffic here. I would provide all that,” Tulsyan said.

Congress ally — JVM — would be of little help. So, Babulal Marandi factor is not going to work here. Marandi himself has not campaigned in this seat.

The BJP won this seat in 1990, 1995, 2000 and 2005.

Congress last won the polls here in 1985.