As the debate on nuclear deal began in the national Capital on the eve of the trust vote, party offices in Lucknow presented pictures in contrast. The Indian Express visited the offices

Congress

With hopes of winning the trust vote, a view endorsed by the astrologers, the Congress is in high spirits. Unlike other parties, the Congress party office was bustling with activities. The party workers were glued to the television, watching the proceedings of Parliament.

“The numbers are in our favour. Jyotishi bhi keh rahe hain ki Sarkar nahin giregi (Astrologers also predict that the government will not fall),” said a spokesperson. Congressmen were overjoyed with the way leaders like Mulayam Singh Yadav, Lalu Prasad and Ram Vilas Paswan have backed the government.

“This indicates that the UPA leaders will jointly undertake the campaign in the forthcoming Parliamentary elections,” said a party worker.

Samajwadi Party

The Samajwadi party, which seems to have given a fresh lease of life to the Government, which was suffering from a bad honeymoon with the Left as their coalition party, is seen by its party workers as a key player to end the autocratic rule present in the state.

A few party workers who were present on the office premises said they were impatient to know the fate of the Manmohan Singh government. According to them, if the government survives, the credit goes to the party chief. “Netaji will be in a position to keep a check on the chief minister’s autocratic style of functioning,” said a party worker.

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