Fingers crossed, candidates fight anxiety ahead of counting

With barely 24 hours to go before the counting of votes to decide the winner in the State Assembly polls, candidates from different political parties have resorted to their own ways to beat the anxiety.

The Congress camp was buzzing with activitiesthrough the day with the KPCC office
brimming with party workers discussing about future possibilities.

With exit polls predicting a simple majority for the Congress, lobbying among aspirants for the chief minister’s post reached new heights. KPCC president G Parameshwharain a pressmeetreiterated his statement that he was in the race for the top post.

“As KPCC chief, I am also one of the aspirants for the chief minister’s post.However, party high command will take the final call following the results,” he said.

Parameshwar kept himself busy, through the day, in discussions with his supporters. Senior Congress leader Siddaramaiah, whose name is also making rounds for the toppost, stayed put at his house in Bangalore as he wanted rest from the hectic schedule of campaigning.

Another Congress leader,D K Shivakumarflew to NewDelhi on Monday evening. Even though one of his associates claimed he went to national capital on personal work, sources said that the intention was nothing but lobbying for the chief minister’s gaddi.

On the otherhand,Congress candidates who have contested MLA seats seem to be calmer.

For Manjula Naidu, the Rajajinagar Congress candidate, itwas a day of thanks giving to
her party workers. Manjula said she would also visit a temple before settling down to
work on preparation for counting day onWednesday.

DasarahalliCongress candidate B L Shankar was in a relaxed mood. “I am reading Patrick French’s book, India a debate,”he said.

Hope in BJP camp Amidst the BJP ranks, despite having been written off bymost
exit polls, hope floats that they may be able to get more seats than expected. On Monday, a day after the polling in the State, most BJP leaders took
time to spend their day at their homes without any distractions.

While Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar stayedin Hubli, his homeconstituency, former State president and Deputy Chief Minister KSEshwarappa spent time at his home in Shimoga.

“It was a peaceful day for me. I tried to compensate for my lack of sleepanddecidedto stay home,”saidEshwarappa.However, he was ‘non-committal’ on the exit poll results.

“While exit polls are saying that we maynot retain power, our candidates are quite confident about their work and expect favourable results.Wewillhave to wait and watch,”he said.

In Bangalore, BJP MLA from C V Ramanagar, S Raghu, also decided to stay at home after having submitted the names of his counting agents to the Election Commission.

“After the meeting with party workers and submitting by party workers’ names for the counting day, I decided to take a break and have a haircut which was long pending,” he said. Raghu also attended a marriagealong with Yelahanka
MLASRVishwanath.

Gowdas stay home Most JD(S) leaders also decided to spend time with their
families including the party State president H D Kumarswamy, whotookadayofffrom his hectic political activities over the past few months.Even JD(S) supremo H D Deve Gowda decided to stay at home, in Bangalore, away from any political activities.

Towards the evening, the father-son duo held asmallmeetingwith party workers to prepare themselves for the counting day.