Dead silence to revelry: How the day unfolded at Congress headquarters

Sanjay Sinha, a long-time member of the Congress, says, “Within the next 10 days, Nitish (Kumar) is going to flip.” As if on cue, workers begin raising the slogan of “Nitish babu wapis aao (Nitish Kumar, come back)”, exhorting the Bihar CM and JD (U) leader to once again ditch the NDA.

“It’s the Samajwadi Party that has actually turned the game,” notes Bindu Verma, a party supporter and an advocate from Prayagraj.

More workers now start pouring inside the AICC office, holding banners with Rahul Gandhi’s image, and waving flags.

At 11.52am, as it becomes clear the party is on track to win 100 seats, interim Delhi Congress Chief Devender Yadav climbs on a stage, holds up a framed sketch of Rahul Gandhi as workers go: “Rahul Gandhi Zindabad”.

While some are still hopeful that the INDIA would form a government at the Center, others are more practical. Nevertheless, they are happy that the BJP is getting a tough fight. “They have failed the people with their divisive tactics; yet, the people have rejected their politics,” says Kishan, a Congress supporter.

By 1.30pm, the party headquarters is echoing to the beat of dhol-nagadas, with many workers shaking a leg. Outside, vendors start setting shop, selling Congress headbands, brooches, and badges. The AICC canteen is jampacked. “Too many dosa and chai orders today,” says Rahul, a canteen worker.

And now, the premises stats filling up with a team of retired army personnel, led by Colonel Rohit Chaudhary, head of AICC’s ex-servicemen wing. “All of us were fighting for the Constitution, the defence forces…they turned our army into a contractual force through schemes like Agniveer…” he adds.

Lakshman, a party supporter from Maharashtra, easily stands out from the crowd in his Congress-themed tricolour attire. “I attended the Bharat Jodo Yatra barefoot and still have blisters on my feet, but the yatra energised our workers… I am on a fast since yesterday.”

Lakshman, who earlier also travelled to Manipur, further says the people of the Northeastern state have rejected PM Narendra Modi. “It has been a year (of the conflict) and they have not given a solution,” he adds.

For Sukhjeet Jangra, a farmer who has travelled all the way from Haryana, it is the alleged mistreatment of farmers and wrestlers that has turned the tide. Shivani Dwivedi, a party worker, holds up her mangalsutra and declares, “I would like to tell the BJP that this mangalsutra is not under threat.”

At 5.30 pm, party workers and supporters form a line to greet party chief Mallikarjun Kharge, along with senior leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi.

“The office was completely deserted on the counting day in 2019. This election has definitely infused renewed energy into supporters to work harder for all upcoming elections,” says Raghav, a party worker from Chandni Chowk.