CHANDIGARH, Sept 5: As the rigorous election schedule ended with voting today, it was time for the two contending stalwarts to sit back and relax. After 16 days laced with activity, this day certainly brought some respite in its fold for both K. L. Sharma and Pawan Bansal who were, for a change, "taking it easy".The activity may have died down for now, but the undercurrents of tension can't still be ruled out, though none of the two leaders admitted that they were apprehensive. Each maintained: "Victory will be mine."And so it seemed, at least as far as Bansal is concerned. While Sharma's residence was calm for a change, Bansal's was still pouring with aides and it felt as though the celebration of "claimed victory" had just begun.Said Bansal, who was about to leave for a jagrata in Panchkula, "For the past 15 days I haven't slept for over three hours. So I have reserved the next two days for sleep. After that I will be back into action."Bansal is scheduled to go to Delhi and plan his future programme as a party observer for Tripura. As for Sharma, the day was still hectic until he made to his bedroom and switched on his TV set after about 20 days. He had just retired after a cool evening bath which had found a place in his routine after long. "Having done my duty well, I am feeling light today.But this is just an interval. For me work never comes to an end and I am not even accustomed to taking much time off," he said, adding that vacations are not high on the cards. After two days he is proceeding to Delhi where his further programme has already been chalked out. Being the party's senior vice president, he has to campaign in other parts of the country also.
