Eager citizens turn to party offices for talk on politics to kill anticipation

The anticipation over the election results, which will be declared on Tuesday, has made some people restless and turn to the candidates’ offices from where they believe they can best judge the “mood” by listening in on the conversations and developments doing the round.

“How can you stay at home with such desperation (to know the results),” said Aslam Qureshi, a supporter of Congress’ Kishanpole candidate Amin Kagzi, up against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)’s Mohan Lal Gupta.

“We have been reviewing the polling in the area since morning. We have prepared a list of developmental issues that we plan to give to our candidate as soon as the results come in,” he said.

Enthusiastic citizens lurked outside offices of other candidates, even at those they may not be supporting or wishing to win.

The candidates’ offices have also turned into store rooms. “We have bought several kilogrammes of sweets and garlands,” said Ayub Gaury, a supporter of Congress’ Hawa Mahal candidate, Mahesh Joshi, who faces challenge from BJP’s Surendra Pareek. “About 150 supporters had come to the office this morning to take a review and had a ‘chai pe charcha’ (discussion over tea). We are confident of the win,” Gaury said.

Many dismiss the exit polls, all of which have given the Congress a clear majority. “We do not care about the exit polls. People and the supporters have been coming here and discussing politics like usual. That is all that matters. These discussions (among the common citizens) can tell a lot more than what the exit polls would say,” said Ashish Kumar, a local supporting BJP’s candidate from Malviya Nagar, Kalicharan Saraf, who is up against Congress’ Archana Sharma.

“Visiting the candidate’s office to get a sense of where the wind is blowing is how people are dealing with the anticipation of knowing the results. People are eager to discuss the developments,” said Manoj Mudgal, at the office of Congress’ Civil Lines candidate Pratap Singh Khachariyawas, up against BJP’s Arun Chaturvedi. NCC volunteers assist a differently abled man at a polling booth in Jaipur, Friday.

JAIPUR:

ASSEMBLY CONSTITUENCIES WITH THE MAXIMUM VOTER TURNOUT

each Churu, Dausa, Sawai Madhopur, Jalore, Sirohi, Bundi, Bhilwara, Baran

each Dholpur, Nagaur, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer and Kota

each Bikaner, Alwar, Barmer, Chittorgarh and Rajsamand

32,978

People with loco motor disabilities who cast vote

26,108

Visually impaired people who voted with the help of a companion

16,047

People with other disabilities who cast vote

ASSEMBLY CONSTITUENCIES WITH THE LOWEST VOTER TURNOUT

POKARAN SANGARIA KUSHALGARH (ST) NIMBAHERA BARI MARWAR JUNCTION

6,745

People with hearing disability who cast vote

2,081

Visually impaired who voted with both Braille and a companion

1,661

Visually impaired who voted with dummy ballot sheet in Braille