West Bengal polls: ‘Cautious optimism’ at Mamata Banerjee home

There was an air of “cautious optimism” and not of impending jubilation and celebration at chief minister and Trinamul Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee’s Kalighat home on Wednesday. In fact the narrow road called Harish Chatterjee Street, which has become internationally known because of its famous resident, was unusually quiet on the eve of announcement of results of a very important Assembly election.

Ms Banerjee has not ventured out of her residence much after the polls concluded and has gone to the state Secretariat at Nabanna only once on May 11. A close confidant of the Trinamul supremo revealed that some top party leaders called on her Tuesday. Exit poll results, that have predicted Ms Banerjee’s return to power, came up for discussion.

“Didi advised them to maintain peace and harmony after the announcement of election results. She said party workers should not go overboard in celebrating electoral victory. She said there should be controlled celebration,” he said.

TMC vice-president Mukul Roy has made a public appeal to party workers and supporters to gracefully accept the election results and exercise peace and restraint. Posting a message on Facebook, Mr Roy said: “On the eve of 19th May, 2016, the day scheduled for counting of votes of the state Assembly election 2016, let’s pledge for upholding peace and harmony across the state, evading all provocation that could trigger violence and erupt carnage. Let us accept and honour the mandate of the people which will reflect Thursday in the ballot.”

The information and cultural affairs department has set up a “special election newsroom” at Nabanna.

A close relative of the CM said he had organised a Sai Baba puja in the neighbourhood Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the information and cultural affairs department has set up a “special election newsroom” at Nabanna. The department has installed a giant television screen. It is being linked with the website of the Election Commission of India.

“We will be getting updates through the ECI site from all parts of the state,” an official said.