On Friday, the only evidence of Congress’s Delhi unit office not being deserted was a single dog barking outside its gates.

Not expecting anyone, two guards at the office were surprised when some journalists entered the building at 2 pm. No Delhi Congress leader turned up on Friday and office staff said they had little hope of anyone turning up as they sipped tea, the only solace for them on a day when Congress did not even manage to secure a single Lok Sabha seat in the Capital.

The conference hall, which is usually readied to welcome journalists on big days such as Friday, was locked. “I was the only one sitting here when the Assembly results came out and am here now too,” an office staff at the DPCC office said, as others watched the results unfold on television.

There was talk that DPCC chief Arvinder Singh Lovely had come to office earlier in the day.

All Congress leaders were unavailable for comment despite repeated attempts to contact them till late evening.

The All India Congress Committee (AICC) office too wore a sombre look as.

A large number of journalists could be seen crowding the party offices with senior leaders either missing from their offices or in meetings throughout the day.

While there was no fluttering flags, sloganeering and bursting of crackers at the Congress office on Akbar Road, a little distance away, the BJP’s office on Ashoka Road was a picture of contrast with two decorated elephants standing on the footpath and supporters surrounding the street leading to the office by early afternoon, already confident of a BJP win in Delhi.

Later, Mukesh Sharma, DPCC chief spokesperson, said, “We respect the mandate of the people of Delhi and are not disappointed by the results…” When asked why no one was present at the DPCC office, Sharma said they were all busy with their duties.

AICC general secretary Ajay Maken divided time between the AICC office and the counting stations, where he stayed for a very short period when his defeat by a large margin became clear.

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