After initial celebrations, the Indian National Congress (INC) headquarters in New Delhi wore a deserted look on 18 December as it became clear that the party was set to lose in both Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
As early trends showed the Congress ahead of the Amit Shah-led BJP in Gujarat, Congress leaders, workers and supporters kept gathering at the party office in Delhi shouting slogans in a festive atmosphere.
However as the morning progressed and early victory indications gave way to signs of defeat in Gujarat, the celebratory mood turned gloomy, with the Congress leaders, sympathisers and workers slowly dispersing.
By the time it became clear that the saffron party was set to retain Gujarat and also come to power in Himachal Pradesh, the Congress office premises emptied out with more journalists than party workers present there.
No prominent Congress faces were in the office till noon and most of those who were around refused to speak to the media.
However, Rajeev Satav, Congress MP from Maharashtra, said his party had put up a good fight in Gujarat as was evident as Prime Minister Narendra Modi had to emotionally attract voters instead of fighting on the basis of any development agenda.
Modi had to camp in Gujarat till the last date of election campaign. That shows the Congress’ performance.Rajeev Satav
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