Congress leaders celebrate victory

The mood was jubilant and upbeat.

Congress leaders like Ambika Soni had stationed themselves at the party HQ since the morning, briefing the media about the unfolding situation.

Impressions: Syed Firdaus Ashraf, Vicky Nanjappa

The Delhi police had blocked roads since the morning to control the sea of people making their way to the Congress HQ.

By the evening Congress leaders like Prithviraj Chauhan, Kamal Nath and Anand Sharma turned up to meet their leader and enjoy their moment of triumph.

The mobile phones of senior Congress leaders rang non-stop and many could not believe that the party had won most unexpected seats.

Some party workers wore T-shirts with Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi's photograph on it; some arrived, children in tow, clearly eager to savour victory.

Even in Madhya Pradesh, where it was supposed to win only Kamal Nath's Chhindwara and Jyotiraditya Scindia's Guna seats, the Congress produced a surprisingly strong show.

"Our next challenge would be the assembly elections in different states," the former Madhya Pradesh chief minister added.

For many Congressmen, it was like a symphony to their ears to know that their party will rule India for the next five years.