As the results for the 15th Lok Sabha elections started pouring in since morning today, people remained glued to their small screen, flipping on different news channels, to become the part of the biggest democratic exercise.
Whether its an executive of a multinational company or a rickshaw puller, everybody was seen hooked to idiot box, curious to know about the minute-to-minute details of the counting process and the results.
"I have been watching the election results since 8 AM and didn't get time to have my breakfast, as all the channels kept flashing the trends and leads from the crucial constituencies," said 26-year-old Abhishek Kumar, an executive and a resident of Chirag Dilli in South Delhi.
"In today's era, counting has become so fast that it took only two-three hours to ascertain who will form the next government. The exit poll results this year, has proved to be right UPA has come ahead of others," said Shekhar Gehlot, an accountant, based in Jaipur.
Rajesh, a rickshaw puller was seen standing at a tea-stall to know about the results and said "Koi bhi aaye, hame kya fayda" (Whichever party forms the government, our condition will remain the same).
Young India, which didn't show much interest during the poll in this election season despite series of campaign urging them to vote, were also seen glued to the small screen at various food joints such as McDonald's, Cafe Coffee Day and Barista.
"I have come here to meet one of my friend. He had just called me up to say he will be late, but I am not much bothered as I am very much enjoying the outcome of results and and its coverage," said Shubhankar Thakur, a finance executive with Genpact, sipping his cold coffee at Cafe Coffee Day outlet in New Friends Colony.
Also Read
"I love hearing the poll analysis and the bytes from the politicians," he added.
"I was confident from the very beginning that the UPA will lead the nation once again, and I had voted in its favour only. Congress is the most trustworthy and secular party in this country," said 27-year-old Avi Maheshwari, a real estate developer sitting at the same food joint.
At the Congress, BJP and CPI-M headquarters in the capitals, hundred of party workers were seen passionately watching the early trends on television since early morning.
News Channels like Times Now, CNN-IBN, NDTV, Aaj-Tak and Star News had called in senior journalists and political analysts in their studios to present discussions and explain the continuously pouring trends and results.