M A I N   N E W S

Cong, BJP on edge as super Sunday may show 2014 trend
Vibha Sharma & Aditi Tandon
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, December 7
A day before the mega Sunday, when results for the four states are to be declared indicating the popular mood in the country’s vast section of the people, the principal contenders, the Congress and the BJP appeared in a nervous bind.

While the Congress, predicted by the exit polls to be faring badly, got busy as to how to respond if that were to happen, the BJP got down to some realistic assessment: what if? The Congress today summoned all its media panelists to the party headquarters to firm up a strategy. Ajay Makan held a two-hour meeting with all 36 TV and media panelists of the party, including Rohtak MP Deepender Hooda and Haryana Industry minister Randeep Surjewala.

Other Congress leaders who attended the meeting were environment minister Jayanit Natrajan, party General Shakeel Ahmed, former party spokesperson Abhisekh Manu Singhwi among others.

BJP’s worries In Delhi, the fledgling Aam Admi Party. In Chhattisgarh and MP the party’s internal problems.

Congress prepares its response Following adverse exit poll predictions, the party has called all its media panelists to the party headquarters. Ajay Makan held a two-hour meeting with all 36 TV and media panelists of the party.

In the BJP camp, sources said, the party’s internal reports have suggested losses in important pockets of Delhi, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh – where it has high hopes. Sunday’s results will also test BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi’s effect on voters.

BJP’s internal assessment of Delhi suggested its failure to connect with young voters despite a high-voltage Modi blitzkrieg. And in party-ruled Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, there were indications of loss of seats due to internal issues.