The head offices of the BJP and the Congress party in Delhi were two contradictory pictures on the results day. While the BJP headquarters at Ashok Road in Delhi was buzzing with activities, drum beats, sweets being distributed and media briefings, the offices of the general secretaries and spokesperson of the Congress party were locked at Akbar Road.
As results started to pour in for Haryana and Maharashtra, the numbers of party workers swelled at the BJP office and shrunk at the Congress bureau. However, the absence of Sushama Swaraj, BJP's seniormost face from Haryana, who speculators said may be nominated as the next chief minister of Haryana raised several eyebrows. Her house also bore a deserted look, with no party workers.
Amid celebrations, in the BJP offices, thrilled party workers dedicated the victory to PM Narendra Modi in whose mass appeal they now have rested their faith.
"Modiji is a mass leader. Villagers around the country know that his mandate is development in the real sense. It is because of his able leadership that diesel prices have come down," said Sooraj, a party worker.
Every added number on BJP's tally on the screen was met with a resounding bout of fire crackers and chants of 'Bharat Mata ki Jai' and 'BJP Haryana jeet liya' to drumbeats and trumpets. Sweets were distributed and party leaders started congratulating each other, taking turns to speak to the media who were gathered in large numbers at the office.
By evening, the security inside the party was heightened with multiple checks made around the office as party president Amit Shah made an appearance before being whisked into a press conference. He thanked the party and dedicated the victory to every party worker, assuring everyone that the party was coming to power in Maharashtra and Haryana.
Meanwhile, after the final tally, in the Congress, the scheduled media briefing was also cancelled. The party only released statements of the party president Sonia Gandhi and his deputy Rahul Gandhi. Party chief spokesperson Ajay Maken who was expected to be at the party head office by the evening also gave it a miss. Congress General Secretary Janaradan Dwivedi who was at his office for a short while also refused to comment on the party's defeat.
The traffic cops had a tough time managing traffic at Ashok Road. With BJP senior leaders visiting the party office, traffic was diverted off Ashok Road, while driving along Akbar Road and parking outside the Congress head office was easy.
However, despite celebrations at the BJP office, the absence of the minister of external affairs Sushma Swaraj caused murmurs amongst party workers, who discussed among themselves who should helm the top post in Haryana. Some old loyalists were eager to see party veteran Swaraj take a stronger role, while some were not too sure if that could happen under the new party leadership. Some lamented that new entrants have now made Haryana's top positiona messy tangle, while others vested their faith in the mandate of the new leadership.
However, another party worker was quick to blame protocol for Swaraj's absence. "Swarajji is the minister of external affairs and if there is no plan put out by the government, then there is no reason for her to make an appearance," said Anand, a party worker.
Swaraj's house meanwhile remained deserted. No party leaders from Haryana visited her residence. Swaraj also refused to speak to the media who gathered outside her house.
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