Assam lead gives BJP workers reason to celebrate

Fire crackers were burst and sweets distributed at the BJP headquarters here on Thursday as party supporters began celebrating its sure win in Assam and the party marking its maiden presence in West Bengal and Kerala assemblies.

In contrast, the Congress office wore a deserted look as election trends revealed the party was getting a drubbing in Kerala and Assam, both states where it was ruling.

Supporters started collecting outside the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) office as soon as trends showed the party leading in Assam, and also in a few constituencies in Kerala and West Bengal. Exit polls had predicted a BJP win in Assam, where the party is poised to form its first government.

Firecrackers and drum beats reverberated at the BJP office, and supporters and party workers danced in joy, terming it a “historic day” for the party.

“I would love to congratulate all party workers as we are going to form government in Assam. Earlier, we did not have our presence in the northeast and south, but now we are entering both regions," BJP leader Kailash Vijayvargiya, BJP national general secretary, told IANS.

Party spokesperson Shrikant Sharma told IANS that the party will enter north-eastern India's political scene through Assam.

“We will enter the north-east through Assam. We have also made entry in Kerala,” Sharma told IANS.

Party leaders were seen congratulating one another, and distributing sweets.

At the Congress office the gloom was visible even as the party leaders tried to play down the defeat.

“Congress has faced worse and bounced back,” party leader P.C. Chacko told IANS.