A few members of the party's media unit were seen overseeing the setting up of a giant TV screen to transmit results
The Congress headquarters at 24 Akbar Road wore a somewhat deserted look on Sunday, while just a day before, it was bubbling with activity as Rahul Gandhi took over as the party's new president. Most of the rooms were locked, with office-bearers and general secretaries preferring to make a beeline at the Tughlaq Road residence of the new president, who has been meeting delegations from across the country.
A few members of the party's media unit were seen overseeing the setting up of a giant TV screen to transmit results. Workers were still dismantling the huge tent that had been erected for the Saturday function. In the back lawns, some employees were playing cards while monkeys swarmed the premises to seek leftovers from the Saturday bash.
DNA spoke to a number of leaders on the phone, who said that Rahul presided over a meeting in the morning to finalise preparations for the counting day.
The media unit has put up a list of 69 spokespersons and panelists, who will be available to the media for reactions as the counting progresses.
A worker at the canteen said no special preparations have been made for a victory. "As of now, no leader has told us anything. We will serve sweets to everybody but no special preparations are underway," he said.
The war room at 15 Gurudwara Rakabganj Road, under the supervision of actor-turned-politician Divya Ramya Spandana, has been augmented to show social media presence during the day.
The unit is working closely with the party's communication and research department. During the Gujarat polls, it was working overtime to ensure that Rahul's campaign was captured well. A duty roaster was prepared according to his schedule, which had at least two social media team members present in advance. They worked as flying squads, making video clips, and clicking photographs to add dynamism to the election rally.
Meanwhile, dismissing the exit poll results, Pramood Tiwari, a Congress leader from UP, said there was no question of the party sitting in opposition in either Gujarat or HP. "We are 200 per cent sure that we will form the government and not sit in the Opposition," he said, putting up a brave face. He added that he himself visited the state and was sure that the exit polls would be proved wrong.
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