The Hindu : New Delhi News : Graceful in defeat

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, May 14, 2004

New Delhi

New Delhi

Graceful in defeat

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI, MAY 13. When the counting of votes for the Chandni Chowk Lok Sabha seat began this morning at the Pusa centre here, a visibly confident Bharatiya Janata Party candidate, Smriti Irani, refused to speculate over the outcome just saying that "it was a thrilling day" for her. Even after it became clear that she had lost the battle by a huge margin, an ever-smiling Smriti left declaring that her innings was not over yet.

Accompanied by her husband and some relatives, Smriti reached the counting centre just before the counting process was to begin. Surprisingly, no other BJP supporter was seen with her. After a routine check with the centre officials, Smriti chose to sit outside the centre and read a book titled "The Family".

In the meantime, her rival Congress Party candidate, Kapil Sibal, arrived there with his family members and supporters.

When asked whether the Janata Dal (S) candidate, Shoaib Iqbal's decision to keep out of the fray had an impact on her chances of winning the elections, she said: "I do not believe in vote-bank politics. I am a new-generation politician who believes in certain values and principles and try to bring positive changes in the system. I am not like those who get absorbed into the system."

She said she was hopeful and confident but did not want to speculate over the result till the last moment.

However, with each round of counting things started getting clear and it became apparent that Smriti was heading for a massive defeat. As though she knew well about the outcome from the beginning, she did not lose her composure. However, before leaving she observed that it was the Shoaib Iqbal factor that had done the real damage.

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