Polling is done and dusted and their fates have been sealed in EVMs.
Polling is done and dusted and their fates have been sealed in EVMs.
However, despite counting being scheduled for a distant May 23, it is all work and no respite for candidates who have contested the Lok Sabha polls from Mumbai.
While Manoj Kotak, who fought from Mumbai North East, may head for campaigning in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's constituency of Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh, the Shiv Sena's Arvind Sawant wants to analyse voting trends, thank his workers and spend time with his mother. The BJP's Gopal Shetty and Sanjay Nirupam (Congress) too plan to meet workers rather than head on vacation.
"I am planning to meet people in their moments of sorrow and joy. I have been unable to meet my mother Ashalata who stays with my brother at Borivali," said Sawant, the incumbent MP from Mumbai South, who fought against Milind Deora of the Congress in a keenly-watched contest.
Sawant added that even if he went outside Mumbai with his family, he would go to his village in the Konkan, though even these plans were uncertain.
"I played badminton on Tuesday morning. I will also sit with my workers to analyse (voting trends in the constituency) and for thanksgiving," said Nirupam, who is fighting against Gajanan Kirtikar of the Shiv Sena from Mumbai North West, adding that despite polling being completed on Monday, his schedule would not change.
His challenger Kirtikar said he would work on completing paperwork to be submitted to the Election Commission of India (ECI) like the expenditure incurred on his campaign and also appoint counting agents. Kirtikar also plans to take a break for a few days at his house in Pune.
"Most importantly, I received a number of memorandums during my campaign. I will hold meetings with officials and those residents and society office bearers to solve these problems. I am an incumbent MP and there is no need for me to wait till the results to resolve these issues," he added.
Kotak, who replaced incumbent MP Kirit Somaiya as the BJP's nominee from Mumbai North East after opposition from the Shiv Sena, said he would similarly meet party workers and voters for a couple of days. "I may be drafted by the party in the election campaign in other states. The agenda is already decided and I may be sent to Benaras. This means I may be outside Mumbai till May 19," he added.
For Gopal Shetty, who was elected as a BJP MP from Mumbai North against then sitting MP Sanjay Nirupam by a record margin of almost 4.50 lakh votes, said his only picnic after a hectic campaign was "working for the people."
Shetty, who is facing a challenge from actress Urmila Matondkar of the Congress, attended his office on Tuesday and then left to inaugurate a boating service at Ghodbunder road, said he would also campaign in other parts of the country like Delhi.
"There is no change in my schedule despite campaigning coming to an end. My meetings with party office bearers, workers and people, continue as usual," laughed Eknath Gaikwad, who is hoping to avenge his 2014 defeat by the Shiv Sena's Rahul Shewale from the Mumbai South Central constituency.
"I have no plans to go on vacation, I will, however, head to other states for campaigning if I am summoned by the party. My (recreation is) to keep on working," said Gaikwad.
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