Festive time for BSP workers

It was festive time for scores of Bahujan Samajwadi Party workers outside the residence of their leader and the future Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Mayawati, as results poured in from different parts of the state indicating that the party could form a government on its own.

Jubilant party workers burst crackers and distributed sweets and hugged each other as every favourable results brought a roar of cheers. Carrying BSP flags, party workers had started gathering near their leader's residence at Mall Avenue since early morning as if they knew what was in the offing. "We knew we are going to win... this time all sections of the people have voted for us," said Narendra Kumar, a BSP worker from Hardoi.

BSP supremo Mayawati, who was confined to her residence along with senior party leaders, remained glued to the TV set to get the latest results.

Though no senior BSP leader was available for reaction on the party's victory, Mayawati is likely to hold a press conference once all the results were declared. Anticipating a huge crowd of BSP supporters who may throng the state capital to celebrate the party's victory, authorities are already making security arrangement. Barricades have been erected on all the roads leading to her official residence and the party office and traffic restrictions have been put in place.

Police pickets have been set up around Mayawati's residence and BSP office with security men having a tough time in controlling the surge of party supporters. In contrast, the Samajwadi Party, BJP and Congress party offices wore a deserted look with virtually no party leader in attendance there to answer the media queries.

It was a gloomy atmosphere at the SP office at the Vikramaditya Marg, which till Thursday bustled with activities anticipating party's victory. A handful of SP workers who had gathered at the party office could not believe the results.

"Our government had done so much for the people of all sections... yet we lost... it is incredible," quipped Surendra Yadav, a party worker who had come all the way from SP supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav's native district of Etawah.

At the UPCC office, the mood was no different. Though the party was not expecting a windfall given its weak organisational base in the state, yet they thought Rahul Gandhi's vigorous campaigning would get them rich dividends.

Congress workers, however, felt that the party has been able to keep its previous tally of 25 seats which reflected that its fortunes were on the up. The BJP office wore a deserted look as several party stalwarts lost at the hustings including its state unit chief Kesri Nath Tripathi.