On poll eve, candidates head to the war room

Rajmohan Gandhi doesn’t remember having spent such a “light day” in weeks now. “I finally had time to go for a haircut,” chuckled the AAP candidate from East Delhi constituency.

With meetings shifting indoors on Wednesday, Gandhi used his time encouraging his team members. “I met the AAP team of East Delhi and thanked them for their tireless efforts. Also, I spoke to a few friends and relatives over phone,” said Gandhi, who will cast his vote in Gurgaon.

Gandhi is planning to spend the polling day going around constituencies to capture the general mood of voters.

Devinder Sehrawat, AAP’s candidate from South Delhi, is a little tense. “I am confident. But as the saying goes, you can never predict the outcome of an electoral battle,” said Sehrawat, with a nervous laugh.

“While analysing the campaigning sessions, we realised a majority of the public is on our side. Those who were initially disillusioned with our 49-days tenure, have now understood our reasons of exiting the government. The response seems positive,” said the ex-army man.

Briefing team members for the “big day” and holding meetings with small groups of people at his home were also on the list. Sehrawat will cast his vote in Mahipalpur at 8.30 am. 

Sehrawat’s rival Ramesh Bidhuri of BJP met party workers and motivated them. “The poll eve is the most important to strategise for the final day. I mostly met party workers. Also, we held indoor meetings with residents of my constituency in small groups.”

“Is it possible to feel relaxed a day before the capital goes to the polls?” said Bidhuri.The South Delhi candidate had participated in a roadshow on the concluding day of campaigning on Tuesday. He had visited 150 colonies while cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Sidhu joined him to canvass for votes.

Congress candidate Mahabal Mishra from West Delhi, who will cast his vote at 10 am, was on his toes holding in-house meetings.

“The battle starts now. It is only post-campaigning that candidates get the time to understand the ground situation. Mishra coordinated with party workers and gave them standing instructions for the election day,” said Sanjey Puri, Mishra’s media coordinator.

Smaller parties confident

While the three major players in this electoral fight spent the day bracing up for the final day, the smaller parties in the fray felt confident.

“Do I sound nervous at all? When I went to appeal for votes, my fans embraced me lovingly. This speaks of a confident win,” said yesteryear’s actor Biswajeet Chatterjee of the TMC.

The New Delhi candidate, who was ‘unwinding’ at the party office with a cup of coffee, said, “With days of campaigning, my voice has turned hoarse.”

TMC fielded Chatterjee from New Delhi constituency banking on a considerable number of votes from the Bengali community here.

Auto driver Sunita Chaudhary, who is contesting on a J&K National Panthers Party ticket from New Delhi constituency, said some youths demanded money in lieu of casting votes for her.
 “I told them money is the only thing I don’t have. Vote for me only if you believe in me.”

On the polling day, Chaudhary will not ferry usual passengers.

“I will go around booths on my autorickshaw to see the public’s response. Several people called me on Wednesday to congratulate for my efforts to bring change.”