VIRAL: Anticipating poll flop, Ahmed Patel asks 'Where has Cong gone?'

With the assembly elections in Haryana, which are scheduled to take place on October 21, approaching, a viral video on Twitter which reveals a short conversation between veteran Congress leaders Ahmed Patel, Bhupinder Singh Hooda, and Ghulam Nabi Azad, has caught many eyes for its political significance. In the video, Congress President Sonia Gandhi's right-hand man Ahmed Patel is seen asking where the party has gone in Haryana to former Haryana Chief Minister Hooda after he was informed about the dismal internal survey results for the assembly elections which shows the party expects to win only 14 seats in the State. The survey reports state that the party's performance would be worse than the previous assembly elections.

'Where has the party gone?'

The video which is shot in front of the Parliament House shows the Congress leaders Patel, Azad, and Hooda involved in a discussion on the party’s prospects in the upcoming assembly elections. When Hooda was asked about the internal assessments of the expected performance, the leader starts to count some numbers. Following that, Ahmed Patel asks “Approximately Batao, Kitni Hai (What is the approximate number)?”. Hooda can be heard saying “6, total 12….” and Ahmed Patel curtly interjects and says “14 Mil Gayi Hogi Total Mein (The total seems to be 14)”. Fourteen is supposedly the number of seats Congress is expected to win as per the party’s estimate. Clearly unconvinced by the number, upset Ahmed Patel, who was listening to Hooda until now, is seen being agitated and asking, "Party Gyi Kahan? (Where has the party gone?)"

This is followed by Ahmed Patel's attempt to clarify “Aapka Kehne Ka Matlab Hai Baaki Log, Haryana Mein, Neutral Hai (What you mean to say is, the others in Haryana are all neutral)?”, Bhupinder Singh Hooda replied, “Haan Neutral Hai (Yes, they are neutral)”. Ahmed Patel is then seen saying “Kya Keh Rahe Ho”.

Patel then turned to the reporters and media camera persons present there and asked them to stop clicking photographs stating that enough have been captured already. However, the video doesn't disclose whether the three leaders were aware or not on their conversation being recorded.

The Assembly election

The Election Commission of India recently announced the state Assembly elections in Haryana and Maharashtra, along with by-polls in several other States. The total strength of the Haryana Assembly is 90, out of which 17 seats have been reserved for the SC category. In total, Haryana has 1.82 crore registered voters, out of which 1.7 lakh are service voters. 0.38 lakh ballot units, 0.25 lakh control units, and 0.27 lakh VVPATs will be used in the state. While the voting will take place on October 21, the results will be declared on October 24.