Lol, is it creepy that I just wrote pretty much the same stuff on DDT? 😆
Contrary to popular opinion, I don't think Mandana was ever in the running for the title. And if at all she was, the violence would have closed that door, as it should be closed for Kishwer and Suyaash as well, for the same reasons. Had there been any solid angle aside from Mandy-Kishwer's rivalry and/or 2-3 other HMs giving consistent content, Mandy would have been evicted after the kick.
Mandana has been used throughout for content, while the way is paved for Prince/Roch, imo. Had Mandy been bashed in the initial days she would definitely have toned down (like she did post the secret room humiliation), and they'd have been left with nothing for content. Self-designed or not, she had no support in the house for the most part, and she was told on weekends that she's going well = they get the content they need + they've fuelled the HMs ire against her. Masterstroke BB!
Mandana's so-called support from Salman has never done her any favours - all it's done is hurt her chances, and increase both the HMs and a faction of the viewers' ire against her. Whereas Prince's support has always been in the way tasks/captaincy tasks are designed, the amount of feedback and spoon-feeding he has received.
Salman bashed Mandana after the secret room humiliation too - but whats noteworthy is that it was in favour of Roch. He's also sarcastically mocked her often, but today, suddenly, the 'strongest' contender, who the season is 'revolving around', in Salman's own words, is not winner-material? Right. Like you said, if one keeps their likes/dislikes out of it, they may see the pattern. Prince is totally going to walk away with the title.