(Top and above) Party offices of BJD, BJP and (below) Congress wear a deserted look in Bhubaneswar on Friday. Pictures by Sanjib Mukherjee

Bhubaneswar, April 18: Headquarters of major political parties — the BJD, the BJP and the Congress — today wore a deserted look as the focus shifts to May 16, when votes will be counted.

Babuli Mishra, 48, the BJD’s Bhubaneswar district unit president, was there in the office busy reading newspapers and talking to friends on mobile. “No one is here at this moment. But, it is my age-old practice to spend a few hours at the party office everyday. The workers and leaders will again come to the office once the result is out,” Mishra said.

Mishra also reminisced how Biju babu had visited the Janata Dal office on the next day of polling for elections in 1995. “The party was defeated in the general election in 1995. Everybody looked upset. Suddenly, I found Biju babu at the party office on day after results were declared. He tried to put on a smile to say as if nothing had gone wrong,” he said.

Mishra said when he had asked Biju babu about resumption of the party programme, he smiled and asked him to wait till the new programme was announced. “Before he left the party office, Biju babu had patted on my back and appreciated my sincerity and commitment to the party.”

At Congress Bhavan, a group of workers were busy in all sorts of gossip on how many seats the Congress would get this time. A bet was going on among them regarding the Congress’s gain and the BJD’s loss in the general election. The talk was also on whether the Narendra Modi effect would make any dent in the Congress’ bastion.

Besides, all of them were busy talking about flamboyant style of Aama Odisha Party candidate and entrepreneur Sunjoy Hans, who contested from the Bhubaneswar (Ekamra) Assembly seat as well as the Bhubaneswar Lok Sabha constituency.

“By contesting the election, he must have succeeded in not giving funds to political parties,” said a Congress activist. However, others did not agree to his point. “I have proof that many businessmen have paid money to parties,” said another member.

But, no senior leaders were present in the office in the morning. In the evening, party vice-president Sivanand Ray called a news conference to lodge their protest about alleged malpractice during polling.

The BJP, which was hopeful to spring a surprise in the Bhubaneswar Lok Sabha seat, is disheartened at the low turnout of voters. “There will be a triangular contest in Bhubaneswar. Though earlier, we were sure of winning the seat, the low percentage of voting has become a cause of concern,” said BJP leader Samir Mohanty.

Though most of the senior leaders were absent in the party office, BJP candidate Devananda Mohapatra, who is fighting against Naveen Patnaik at the Hinjili constituency, was in his best mood in the party office.

“Our vote margin will certainly go up this time against Naveen Patnaik. We are sure to get at least 25,000 votes. I have nothing to worry as I am fighting against the chief minister. My fight will continue in the coming days,” said Mohapatra. A few other party workers were seen distributing Lord Jagannath’s prasad to the people, who visited the party office.