Mall Avenue is the state's political hub: within hailing distance of the BSP's office are the offices of the Congress and the BJP.
Outside the Congress office, all is silence. Two large posters flank the entrance -- one featuring Sonia Gandhi and Priyanka Vadra, the other Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi.
A couple of cars are parked at the entrance; six volunteers sitting on benches at a dedicated tea-shop within the compound argue whether 'Madam' should, or should not, offer her support to Mayawati and whether Mayawati will, or will not be able to break the jinx that has seen her chief ministerial tenures last six months at the outside, and rule for the full five years.
Of the four major party offices, this is the only one that is almost entirely bereft of press presence -- no OB vans, no anchors doing pieces to cameras, nothing -- an eloquent testimony to the fact that a party that once ruled this state has now been reduced to total irrelevance.
And if you are looking for symbolism, consider this: within that compound that is devoid of leaders, followers and the media, there is one single, solitary OB van parked, off in one corner -- the one belonging to DD News. I spend some time searching for the reporter and cameraman, but even they are nowhere to be seen.
The BJP office wears a similarly desolate look. There are more cars here than at the Congress office, and a few more volunteers hanging around, seemingly unsure of what if anything they can do. And there are a couple of OB vans from national channels, with their cameramen and anchors set up and waiting to do the usual "Outside the BJP office, there is an air of defeat and despair..." pieces.
Image: The BJP office wears a desolate look.
Also see: Priyanka takes to the stage
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