Congress media team device strategy to face poll results

New Delhi: Congress media team on Saturday had a brainstorming session to chalk out a strategy to face assembly polls results boldly and counter impressions of any Narendra Modi wave if exit polls predictions of a rout of the party in four states come true tomorrow, when counting takes place.

A number of spokespersons, however, also trashed the exit poll findings and the role of media saying that Congress is not in such a bad shape in these assembly elections as is being projected and there is no real cause for despondency.

The odd two-hour-long interaction, in which all its national spokespersons and television panelist participated at 15 Rakabaganj road known as Congress War Room, discussed at length the "batting and fielding" strategy of the party in the event of victory and losses with a clear direction that attempts to project the outcome of these elections as Modi versus Rahul Gandhi contest should be avoided.

They will also seek to dispel the notion that the assembly elections are some sort of a semifinal for the next general elections and the results of these assembly polls prove that Modi-led BJP is on the rise and could win the next Lok Sabha polls.

An indication to this effect has already come from the statements and tweets of various leaders. AICC Communication Department Chief Ajay Maken in his address talked about the do's and don'ts for spokespersons and TV panelists while facing the media after the results are out.

Sources said that the spokespersons have been asked to cite statistics to hammer home their point. They have also been provided with statewise statistics of seats won and lost by parties as well as their percentage of votes in Delhi, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh and also Mizoram, where counting will take place on Monday.

Though a number of leaders are still not ready to accept that Congress will lose in Delhi, they have been asked to highlight the fact that Sheila Dikshit is the only chief minister who served Delhi as its head thrice, a feat which no BJP government could achieve.