Stung by the BJP’s fierce poaching instincts on several occasions in the recent past, the Congress leadership has drawn up elaborate plans to protect its new MLAs in Uttarakhand, Goa, Manipur and Punjab.

Gearing up well before the results are declared, the high command has deployed strong and resourceful leaders in these states with multi-layered strategies to tackle fractured mandates without any delay.

While the central observers have already got in touch with the party candidates, a plan to deport them to safe locations in case of hung Assemblies has been worked out. The plan also intends to elect legislature party leaders to be able to stake claim to form governments immediately to prevent horse-trading.

A strong team led by former finance minister P. Chidambaram, which includes Karnataka party chief D.K. Shivakumar and Maharashtra minister Sunil Kedar, is looking after Goa where the Congress couldn’t form the government last time despite being the single-largest party.

The Congress had won 17 seats, just four short of majority, but the BJP hijacked power despite winning only 13 seats. The Congress was accused of being slow and disinterested while the BJP staked claim without wasting time.

Sources revealed that the Congress has already started negotiations with smaller parties, including the Trinamul Congress and MGP, even as it expects to get a clear majority in the Goa House of 40. The exit polls have suggested a hung Assembly and the Congress leaders don’t want to take chances by waiting for the results.

Chidambaram said: “The party that steals MLAs is still around. This time we won’t allow our house to be burgled.”

He reached Goa on Monday, three days before the results are announced on Thursday, and met every candidate. The candidates were this time made to sign loyalty bonds to create psychological pressure and all of them have been asked to be available at short notice.

The central observers will meet all of them for dinner on Tuesday and again on Wednesday to finalise the post-counting strategy. They have instructions to elect the legislature party leader and stake claim without wasting time if the situation demands so.

Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel and Haryana leader Deepender Hooda have been dispatched to Uttarakhand where the Congress hopes to reach the majority mark without any hiccup. But the exit polls have given confusing signals, necessitating a contingency plan. If there is a fractured mandate, all the MLAs will be transported to Rajasthan to prevent poaching. Former chief minister Harish Rawat rubbished the exit poll predictions, claiming that the feedback from the ground was entirely different.

The Congress is looking at the exit poll predictions with suspicion, particularly those on Uttar Pradesh where all the leaders believe the BJP will lose power. Even on Punjab, Congress leaders expect a much closer fight even as the exit polls indicated that the Aam Aadmi Party could win 80 to 100 of the 117 seats.

Senior Congress leaders Ajay Maken and Pawan Khera have rushed to Chandigarh. Chhattisgarh minister T.S. Singh Deo and general secretary Mukul Wasnik have been sent to Manipur.

While the Congress has been the worst victim of poaching across the country, it neither has the resources nor the killer instinct to counter the BJP’s onslaught. Not only while forming governments, the Congress has lost its established governments in Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka in unseemly spectacles of subversion of the people’s mandate. The party hopes to demonstrate better intent and skills this time.