Residents count on TV for on poll trends

Naina Mishra

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 23

At the crack of dawn, city residents glued to their TV screens wishing success for the candidates they voted for. 

Raju Singh, a waiter at Kailash Restaurant in Sector 19, couldn’t keep his eyes off a TV screen installed on a wall of the eatery. “I woke up at 5 am today and switched on the TV to see pre-counting telecast. Even now we all are glued to it. I am glad Modi won as I voted for him. For generations, we have been voting for the other party but my stance changed ever since Modi joined the race.”

Karan Verma (23), a resident of Panchkula, said he had been watching several news channels ever since the counting started in the morning. “The world watched how the biggest democracy voted for a man who is dedicated to bringing out ‘Bharat’ from India. We are witnessing the end of the so-called dynasty. I am happy people voted out casteism,” added Verma.

Mamta Sharma, a resident of Sector 27 and a homemaker, said she usually prepared breakfast for her children. “Today, we ordered food from outside. I couldn’t do anything beyond keeping myself updated on the leads the political parties and prominent candidates were getting. I am happy that the nation has elected one leader in one voice. It is a clear mandate and even larger saffron surge than previously.”

It was not only that those who had access to technology were in the grip of election fever, even rickshaw pullers were spotted talking about the winner. “Arre bhai..., aana to Modi hi tha. Humare gaon se bhi BJP hi aayi hai (It was clear that Modi would win the election. Even at my village, the BJP has won), said Hari Lal, a rickshaw puller.