“We are open to talk, Yogesh Bhai, you are always welcome to our office.”
“Come to Delhi.”
“I’m sorry, that won’t be possible today. I can fly out tomorrow…” Samar bluffed. He had to create the sense of urgency for Yogesh Patel to come to them, to ask, to make this as strongly negotiable in their favour as possible. He could get more ministries for HDP than its seat share demanded.
A pause. Samar thought Yogesh Patel would deny, or push back.
“I will be there this afternoon at 3. Do I have your word that you will not make a decision until then?”
“You have my word,” Samar said solemnly, slowing down at the gate of the building that housed the HDP headquarters. The bigger one. Firecrackers and celebrations and dhols had already deafened the road outside. As soon as they saw his car, they erupted in wild slogans, cheering him on as the way cleared and his car passed. Samar nodded and waved, smiling at the excitement of the people who had trusted him when he had come here with nothing but the KDP name in his pocket.
He parked and got out, only to be overwhelmed by party members. Instantly, he had lost his footing and was on their shoulders, holding on for life as they hailed him up and down. Samar laughed, holding his specs from falling off.
“Congratulations, sir,” Gauri mouthed, finding him just as he was let down. Samar patted backs and shook hands and slapped shoulders, moving towards her through the crowd. She held out the padded folder he had been waiting for. It held the final seat count, the declared result, and the list of ministries that he had compiled last night for an eventuality exactly like this.
“Has HJS gotten in touch with anybody else?” Samar asked in a low voice, walking away from the fanfare and the cameras and the press.
“Balwinderji.”
“Did Atharva come?”
“Yes, sir, everybody is gathered in your office. But you need to give a media bite before you go up.”
“Not yet, I need to finalise where we are going first.”
“Amaal madam called and asked me to tell you this.”
He let out an amused huff — “Why is Amaal madam not calling me? Anyway, I’ll talk to her. In the meantime, ask our official spokespersons to spread media bites. Nothing but the standard statement.”
“That we are thrilled and exploring our options in the best interests of the people of Himachal Pradesh?”
“Hmm.” Samar got into the lift and she hung back.
“Aren’t you coming?”
“I have to oversee the media bites.”
“Next time Amaal madam calls, tell her she is the Press Secretary of CM Qureshi, not Media Head of HDP,” Samar relayed with a smirk, expecting her to come biting at him. He pulled out his mobile. The lift doors slid close and he checked her last message, re-reading it.
AMAAL
CONGRATULATIONS DAAXSAAB!!!
He smiled. She had sent it even before the trends had settled. He had called her but she had been asleep, half mumbling her congrats and going back down. Now, she seemed awake and quite too awake. The lift doors opened and he stepped off, beginning to press for her when he saw the crowd outside his office. All junior members, sectaries, assistants to the senior leaders gathered inside. They saw him and broke into applause. Samar locked his phone shut, smiling and nodding, walking through the gully they made and pushing the door to his office open.
All his senior leaders were seated on his round table, the kingmakers. “Sorry, sorry.” He strode in, smiling at them all, and stopping at Atharva. He had been the silent spine. Samar hadn’t been the easiest to follow, but Atharva had followed. And strangely, Samar felt giddy to see him proud. He adjusted his specs and took his seat, pulling out the papers from his folder.
“Congratulations, first of all. We have pierced HJS’s armour. Here are the final numbers.” He read from the papers. “All seats have been called. HJS closed at 22, Janta Party at 21. We hold the power to form government with either party at 14.”
“How many independents?” Atharva asked.
“What does it matter? A majority is 35. Whichever party we go with will form the government. We have the highest bargaining chips. I have been speaking to HJS as well as Janta. Yogesh Patel wants to meet us but I think we should give HJS the first…”
“Samar, there are 11 independents called.” Atharva reminded him.
“Yes, so?” He sat back. “Even if they all come together, they can’t touch majority with either of these parties.”
“I agree, but if 2 or 3 from HDP dissented and moved, then the power has shifted to them.”
