Vote-day & result-day gap: Kolkata turns to adda sessions, tries to read its own mind

KOLKATA: The long gap between the poll day and the result day, along with a long weekend, has made Kolkata do what it does the best and loves the most — discussing politics over beverages, food and addas.

With polling ending on April 29 and counting set for May 4, the unusually long gap — stretched further by a long weekend — has turned the city into a giant echo chamber of speculation, satire, anxiety and amusement. From tea stalls to living rooms, from buses to metro compartments, one question loops endlessly: "Ki hobe?"



At a tea stall on Harish Mukherjee Road, regulars with earthen cups have taken on the role of amateur psephologists. Booth-level turnout figures are debated with surprising fluency, as if the results could be reverse-engineered through sheer discussion. "Turnout has been exceptionally high this year, even in the city. That usually means something," said Saroj Singh, a Bhowanipore-based businessman. His friend, however, was quick to temper the confidence. "This election is about narratives as much as numbers. It's not easy to predict," said Kapil Prasad.

Such exchanges are playing out across Kolkata — in ‘rowaks', cafes, restaurants and drawing rooms — where political allegiance and poll arithmetic have become the central themes of conversation. Even those unable to vote are following developments through family members and neighbours.

Rudrayan Gooptu, who works in Bengaluru, returned to Bhowanipore to cast his vote. What struck him was not just the participation, but the mood that followed. "There's a mix of excitement and anticipation, but also a quiet tension now. People seem to be watching more closely than usual," he said.

A similar sentiment was echoed by Soumya Mukherjee, a bank executive who extended his stay in Kolkata for the results. After nearly a year, he found himself immersed in political discussions at every gathering. Among them, there were "SIR victims", too.

Family gatherings have mirrored the broader political divide. At a lunch in Fariapukur, opinions were split almost evenly between supporters of BJP and Trinamool. "People are frustrated with corruption and lack of jobs," said Soumalya Chakraborty, a retired central govt employee. His brother-in-law Goutam Mukherjee offered a counterpoint. "People also remember how things have improved since the Left era. Welfare schemes matter, and there are concerns about increasing polarisation if there is a change in power," he argued.

The city's public transport system has become another stage for these debates. On a bus inching through traffic between Esplanade and Sealdah, a loud exchange between two office-goers drew in half the passengers.

WhatsApp groups are also abuzz with discussions.
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