BJP candidate Abha Mahto (top, centre) listens to the poll calculations being read out by a party worker while Sunil Mahto (above, centre) takes stock of Monday’s poll. Pictures by Uma Shankar Dubey

Jamshedpur, April 27: A day after the poll, electoral candidates tally their gains and losses before the official results are out.

The splash of happiness on the face of BJP candidate Abha Mahto after being reunited with her two sons after over a month vanished as soon as she poured over poll calculations on sheets of paper submitted by party workers at her residence in Sonari this morning.

Her rival, JMM candidate Sunil Mahto, on the other hand, took time off for a nap in the afternoon as his supporters enjoyed beer at his hotel in Chhota Gamharia.

With the poll over, the candidates and party workers are busy collecting feedback and making payments to various agencies, including tent houses, car rentals, tea and soft drink vendors, at their respective election offices.

The agencies with large bills were told to wait for some more days while others went back with crisp notes in their pockets. Poll managers of different parties said they were yet to make an estimate of the outstanding bills and would clear them one by one.

“It is after a month that I am meeting my sons — Biswajit and Abhjit. I am glad. I’ve not been able to meet them due to the election. They are on school vacation and are equally eager to meet me. I have planned to take them out for swimming this evening,” Abha told The Telegraph.

Her sons study in Bishop Cotton Boy's School, Bangalore.

Along with her strategist husband, Shailendra, Abha and some close aides, huddled over the feedback received from urban and rural areas.

The feedback was enough to send alarm bells ringing. “We have lagged behind in Ghatshila. Over 15,000 CPI voters have backed the JMM. The Congress, too, have adequately thrown in their support,” said Shailendra, a two-term MP from here.

Abha appeared worried as she sought details from other rural segments, including Bahragora, Potka, and Patamda. The scene was not as bright as she had expected.

Wiping her face, the BJP candidate regained composure and said: “The feedback from rural areas notwithstanding, I am going to make a hattrick this time.” However, she admitted that she would win with a less margin this time around.

“Last time, I won by 1,21,000 votes. But this time, the victory margin might be around 50,000,” she said. Asked to explain the reasons for the reduced victory margin, Abha said most of her voters could not vote as the polling booths were changed to some other places. Many didn't find their names on the voters’ list.

“The polling arrangements were not satisfactory,” she added. BJP functionaries admitted that Abha would face difficulty this time.

“A faction of our workers has worked against her. She has also lost a sizeable chunk of votes in rural areas due to internal bickering. It will be a close contest with the JMM,” said a senior functionary. There were very few people at the party’s central office in Bistupur.

In a bid to ward off tension prevailing at her residence, Abha soon fished a Rs 100 note to order soft drinks.

Party workers scattered round her drawing room as she sipped Pepsi from a small plastic glass as Shailendra concentrated on the feedback.

Soon, a bearded youngster entered the room and asked about his outstanding bill of car rental. “Come some other day. The poll has ended only yesterday. Let us take some breath. We are yet to go through the bills,” said one of Abha's aides as she charted out her achievements as a parliamentarian.

In sharp contrast, there was an air of bonhomie at the JMM camp. Party workers uncorked bottles of beer at a hotel in Chhota Gamharia.

“Neta aaram farma rahen hain. Unhe aage bahut kaam karna hain,” said a party worker. The scene was ecstatic at the party central office at Bhuiyadih. Party workers flipped through newspapers while some enjoyed sugarcane juice. Food packets were also available in plenty.

Clad in a tracksuit, a tired Mahto said he was destined to upset the Abha applecart. “The minority community have voted en block for me. The feedback suggests that both urban as well as rural voters have backed me. We have also got substantial votes in Bahragora and Potka,” he said. “I am extremely tired. I have not slept for three days. I need sleep,” he said.

Sunil Mahato seemed happy over how things fared yesterday.

He said he was yet to make an estimate of his spending for the polls. “But I intend to clear the bills as early as possible,” Mahto said.