May 14: When Agatha Sangma, the NCP candidate for Tura Lok Sabha seat, was addressing a conclave on global warming in Alaska a few days ago, the temperature outside was just 6 degrees Celsius.
But back home, with less than 48 hours to go for the counting of votes, Agatha will certainly be feeling the political heat despite insisting that she was “very cool”.
Across the Northeast, candidates revealed their plans to ease the tension over the next two days till the poll results are announced on May 16.
Though the common refrain is “I am not tense”, even veteran candidates get butterflies in their stomachs when the counting begins.
Agatha, who was the youngest MP in the outgoing Lok Sabha, said she would be in Tura on Saturday, the day of the results. “I am completely relaxed and will spend time with my family. I don’t have any tension and will face the results with a positive mind,” she said over phone.
Agatha, NCP leader P.A. Sangma’s daughter, had left for Anchorage — the largest city in Alaska — just after the heat and dust of campaigning ended and polling was held in Tura on April 16. The US state of Alaska is one of the coldest places on earth. Even during the summers, the night temperature is below the freezing point. Down to the plains and higher temperatures, the Congress candidate for the prestigious Guwahati seat, Robin Bordoloi, has found a very green way of remaining at ease. “I will be playing golf at the army golf course in Narengi. But I am not tense because I am very confident of winning the elections,” he said.
“Besides, I will also spend time with my family and friends and watch television. On the day of counting, I will visit the counting centres with my party supporters,” he added.
Bordoloi’s “counterpart” in Shillong, Vincent Pala, said he would “be moving in parts of East Khasi Hills” on the counting day.
“Till then, of course, I will be meeting party supporters to co-ordinate the collection of results from various counting centres,” he added. “Winning or losing is part of life”.
This philosophy found an echo in the Opposition camp with senior BJP leader and the party’s Guwahati candidate, Bijoya Chakraborty, saying that she had learnt to live with both victory and defeat.
Chakraborty, who has returned from campaigning for her party in West Bengal, said she would wait for Saturday with “patience and faith in God”.
“I am not going to be affected by victory or defeat. Even in the case of a defeat, I will again go back to the people. I want to be among the people all the time,” she said.
On the day of counting, Chakraborty will be at home. “I am a little apprehensive that the Congress might resort to rigging in some counting centres. My party workers are there and they will keep a watch.”
In Manipur, Thokchom Meinya Singh, the sitting MP and Congress candidate for the Inner seat, said he was “confident” of retaining the seat. “I will review my performance and prioritise my action plans for the next Lok Sabha term. I am not worried. I have decided to stay put at home when the results are announced.”
His rival in the electoral fray, Moirangthem Nara Singh of the CPI, has a different take on the unfolding scenario. “I will spend the next 48 hours engaging (myself) in social activities. I will meet people and discuss the problems and issues of the state.”
On the day of counting, he will either be “at the office of the returning officer or at the party office,” he added.
