Saturday

I got up late. I had set alarm for 5.30. I woke up at 6.32. I didn't bathe. I didn't brush. (But I rinsed my mouth.) I just dressed and rushed out. I was supposed to be at the information centre in Mantralaya.

By 10, it was clear that Congress was doing well. I felt euphoric. By 11.30 I got bored. Next nine hours were spent in boredom.

But what made the initial hours exciting wasn't just Congress's good showing. It was MNS's figures. In all the Mumbai constituencies -- barring Priya Dutt's -- Congress/NCP won because MNS ate into Sena-BJP votes. In fact it gobbled huge chunks of votes. MNS candidates who one had never heard of polled one lakh plus votes. Sena is in trouble -- assembly elections are due four months later.

Cong did well in UP, apart from AP, Rajasthan, etc. Even in Gujarat its tally (11 to BJP's 15) is respectable. Where is BJP's star orator, Mr Modi? Didn't see him during the day. But Cong's showing in Uttar Pradesh is heartening. Parties like BSP and SP must be shown their place in the Indian politics, and for that Congress/BJP must reclaim the Hindi heartland.

Nitish did well, so did Navin Patnaik. Both are decent men. Commies got a whacking. But Mamata is back -- Congress, beware. BJP held Karnataka. Sheila Dixit showed she is Delhi boss. (I am a huge fan of her's. I wish she is elevated to union cabinet.) Lalu was crushed. I hope to see a Manmohan Singh cabinet sans gems like Shibu Soren and Lalu. Pawar should be happy to get agriculture ministry. An MoS could be given to Su Su baby.

Obama got into White House and Manmohan now gets another extension at 7 RCR. Times aren't bad.