MANY MOODS ON A VERDICT

How did India react to the outcome of an intensely fought poll battle? Let's find out

Delhi: Where's the Opposition?

Late afternoon in the national capital, as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) looked set to win all seven Lok Sabha seats for the third time in a row, traders said the city-state needed an Opposition. The current scenario, they added, offered no such option.

Gathered in small groups outside their shops, the traders of wholesale markets such as Chandni Chowk and Sadar Bazaar in Old Delhi were glued to their mobile screens. "We are tracking the results. Even if not in Delhi, there is still a fight," said Manoj Kumar, a cart-puller from Sadar Bazaar.

Sudhir Arora, owner of a nearby stationery shop, said no political party works if there's no competition. "We like the BJP for its strong stance on various issues, but such an ego boost from the national capital can lead to overconfidence," he added.

The traders said they had big expectations from Praveen Khandelwal, the candidate from Chandni Chowk, who is the founder and general secretary of the Confederation of All India Traders. His constituency covers major commercial hubs such as Sadar Bazaar, Kamla Nagar, and Chandni Chowk.

"Somebody from our community is coming to power," said Ram Babu Jain of Nitin Fabrics, a textile wholesaler. "Till yesterday, he was a business leader. Now, he is a political leader. Things might change, but we are hopeful that we'll have a representative in him," said Rajesh Malhotra, president, Textile Market Association, Chandni Chowk. With policies and incentives focused on micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), the traders said wholesale markets such as theirs had lost their dominance and needed attention.

Sanjay Bhargava, president of trader association Sarv Vyapar Mandal, and Khandelwal's long-time associate, said the BJP candidate had promised better infrastructure and representation. Taking a jibe at the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), he quipped. "BJP winning all seven seats is AAP's failure."