Expecting a big win on D-Day, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has already briefed its volunteers on how the celebrations will unfold on Tuesday. The BJP, however, has refused to buy the predictions of the Exit Polls. Party leaders believe their own internal survey that the BJP is winning on 34 seats while 16 seats are still going to be tough.
Meanwhile, the senior leaders of the AAP held a “preparatory” meeting on Sunday afternoon. But for now, AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal had a special message for the party's army of volunteers as he lauded their contribution and asked them to "chill".
According to party sources, if AAP comes to power on February 10, the main celebrations will be held at the Patel Nagar party office and the mithai and merchandise for the same have already been arranged. Also, the swearing-in ceremony is expected to be held at Ramlila Maidan on February 15.
Sources said, “The swearing-in will definitely be held at Ramlila Maidan but the date will be decided by the lieutenant-Governor. We will suggest February 15 because on February 14, 2014 Kejriwal resigned as the CM, so exactly a year later he wants to take the oath. People can also celebrate Valentine’s Day like this.”
The volunteers of AAP took an off on Sunday, but on Monday they will be back to work to prepare for the “big day”. “We will put up a screen at the Patel Nagar office and keep the basic merchandise of the party ready. Rest we will leave it on the janata,” said a volunteer.
Despite the Exit Poll results predicting a victory for the AAP, the BJP is in no mood to concede defeat. The party has chalked out a ‘plan-B’ to ensure that it gets the magic number of 36. It has now deployed hundreds of its workers who have been asked to keep a strict vigil in counting stations on Tuesday, lest there be any tampering or other possible malpractice. In a meeting held by the Delhi BJP on Sunday, the party discussed results of its internal surveys and reiterated that it is still in the game.
Party sources said they were trying out all possible calculations to form the Government. Talks with other leaders already seem to have begun. Party insiders have indicated that after compiling data from all 70 constituencies, the BJP will get 34 seats.
Besides, special attention is being given to the counting day. “We have deployed workers who have been trained to keep a vigil on the counting process. They have been asked to demand recounting immediately if anything fishy is sensed,” said a senior BJP leader.
A day after the polling ended for the high-voltage Assembly elections, the BJP in its review meeting discussed the political situation of the city. “All our constituencies were analysed, evaluated during the meet, and based on that we forecast that BJP will form a government in Delhi under the leadership of Kiran Bedi with a comfortable majority,” said Satish Upadhyay, BJP Delhi Unit chief after the meet.
The meeting was held at the party’s state headquarters and was attended by Upadhyay, BJP General Secretary (Organisation) Ram lal, Delhi BJP in-charge Prabhat Jha, party’s chief ministerial candidate Kiran Bedi, conveners of the Assembly constituencies and all the candidates and other leaders.
When asked that similar assessments were also made last year by the party, Upadhyay said, “I cannot say about last year’s assessment but this time we are definitely forming the government.”
When asked to comment on the exit polls, which places the party on the second spot, the BJP Delhi chief said, “I am not challenging any exit polls or making any comment...Our assessment is our organisation’s assesement...We have assessed all seats, took feedback and factored in ground realities, and talked to booth management. It is our assessment and I can say with determination ..we are making the Government.”