As the national Capital waited with bated breath for Tuesday when votes would be counted for the keenly-contested Delhi Assembly polls, the moods of the three political parties in the fray were reflective of the results expected by them on D-Day.
While a cautious BJP kept its fingers crossed, refrained from making any tall claims but exuded confidence that it would cross the victory margin, a confident AAP, whose hopes were bolstered by the exit polls, on the other hand, was busy making elaborate arrangements for celebrations at its party office in Patel Nagar. The Congress, which has been completely written off by the exit polls, was seen hoping against hope that it would improve its tally after the 2013 Assembly poll debacle.
With just a handful of workers idly roaming around, the Delhi BJP’s office bore a gloomy and deserted look on Monday, even as senior leaders, including Delhi BJP president Satish Upadhyay, Ram lal and others held another review meeting in the evening. Most party leaders refrained from talking to the media as all the State and national spokespersons were briefed separately by National Secretary (Organization) Ram lal at party headquarters on 11 Ashoka Road on the safeguards to be taken in case of an adverse verdict on Tuesday.
Although not revealing any figure this time, the BJP reiterated that the feedback from its workers clearly indicated that the party would be forming the Government in the National Capital. Besides, all BJP candidates have been instructed to be on alert during the counting process and seek recounting in case of any suspicion.
The party’s chief ministerial nominee Kiran Bedi invoked ‘karma’ and said she was not nervous about the results as they were not in her hands while making it clear that she would take responsibility in case of a defeat. As for the AAP, it is already in a celebratory mood with its volunteers all charged up.
Party chief Arvind Kejriwal will reach the party’s Patel Nagar office in the morning on Tuesday from where he will monitor the counting process with senior party leaders Manish Sisodia, Kumar Vishwas, Yogendra Yadav, Sanjay Singh and Ashutosh. Once the results are declared, Kejriwal would address the workers at the office.
“Volunteers will start coming in from 8 in the morning. There will be a lot of singing and dancing as the results start coming in...Just like last time,” said a party volunteer. On Monday, Kejriwal spent most of his time at home with his family, taking a break from meetings.
There seemed to be hardly any enthusiasm in the Congress camp, which had ruled Delhi for 15 years till December, 2013. Barely four to five officials were seen at Rajiv Bhawan, the Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee’s head office on Rouse Avenue in Central Delhi.
“We do not have any engagements planned for today at the DPCC. No senior leaders are here. DPCC chief Arvinder Singh lovely is in Gandhi Nagar and General Secretary Ajay Makan too does not have any meeting or programme lined up here,” said a DPCC official present there.
The conference hall on the ground floor of Rajiv Bhawan was open but lay completely dark and vacant, while the conference room on the first floor was locked, perhaps indicating the shape of things to come.