While supporters left no stone unturned in expressing their love for their party on February 14, some of them had a lingering thought at the back of their minds. It was also Valentine’s Day and there was a beloved waiting to be serenaded after the victory celebrations.

This year the election results were declared on Valentine’s Day and though that made it tough to squeeze in time for both party and partner, many did quite the balancing act.

In two minds

“Shondhe bela khela hobe,” quipped Md Raja, who by day was smeared in green and shouted slogans in support of his newly-elected councillor Rahima Bibi.

Alok Bag of Duttabad had divided his day into slots. “I’m spending the day here with my party, and have even got a bouquet for councillor Alo Das Dutta, but if I ignore my wife I’ll have to forgo meals! So I gifted her roses at midnight itself and have promised her cake and biryani for dinner once I return,” he assured.

Some revellers said they were giving V-Day a miss as it was also the anniversary of the Pulwama attacks. Gopal Balmiki said he preferred a candle light vigil to a candle light dinner. Ganesh Halder said he would skip V-Day as Monday was Bhole baba’s day.

Independent candidate Mamoni Sikdar poses with a bouquet that fiance Basudeb Mondal had originally got for his new councillor

Party with partner

Nothing like celebrating V-Day together at the victory march, isn’t it? “My fiancée Mamoni Sikdar was herself an independent candidate this time,” said reveller Basudeb Mondal proudly. The 21-year-old Sikdar had contested from Ward 39 but was heartily celebrating the victory of Trinamul Congress candidate Rajesh Chirimar whom she had lost to!

The couple had decided to squeeze out an hour for a date in the evening, even as Basudeb cribbed about the inflated prices of flowers on the day. “I went to buy a bouquet for my councillor Alo Das Dutta and had to spend Rs 250 for one that usually costs 100. Let’s see, I may buy Mamoni another bunch later,” said the man who works at a City Centre restaurant. “Both events are important today — one is a matter of the heart, the other is in my blood.”

Some love birds had celebrated in advance. “We usually go to Eco Park, Victoria Memorial or Prinsep Ghat on Valentine’s Day but since the date was clashing with the results this time, we went on Saraswati puja itself,” said Pinky Mondal, whose husband was also somewhere in the crowd outside the counting center on the 14th. She had worn a green sari bought specially for the results day.

“The fun we are having now is nothing less than V-Day,” added Pinky’s friend Ria Biswas. “Balloons, music…ekhanei neche phatiye debo,” she said before shaking her hips to the TMC party anthem Khela hobe that played on loop. “If my husband wants to gift me flowers tonight I’ll ask for white roses and apply green abir on them to celebrate the twin occasions.”

Flower power

All stores around the counting station had shutters down on the day, save one. “How can we shut down today? It is our busiest day of the year,” said Antara Saha, who runs the flower shop Flower Petals in DB Block. Their staffers in the meantime were packing rose bouquets with undivided attention. “Not just roses, many political supporters are asking for green flowers today. Our green daisies sold out in no time,” she said. “We hadn’t anticipated a political crowd on Valentine’s Day.”

Flower shops across the township witnessed similar trends. “Valentine’s Day is a youth festival and, with schools and colleges shut, we had expected abysmal sales this year. But it evened out somewhat as the election results came out today too. We’ve sold 10 to 15 bouquets and garlands to party supporters today,” said Amar Mondal of CK Market’s Ma Kali Pushpa Bhandar in the afternoon. “And several of them also bought red rose bunches on the side. We must have sold 500 to 600 roses today.”

Molina Haldar, a supporter from Ward 22, said she had to pay a grand instead of the usual Rs 250 for the elaborate garland she got for her councillor. “Not that money matters on a day like this but, still, it’s a rip off. And we didn’t even buy roses so why does it have to be so expensive?” she demanded.

“The price of roses shoots up a week before V-Day every year, to meet the hike in demand,” explained Dibyendu Paira of FC Block’s Puja Flowers Decorations. They too had sold 10 to 15 garlands to party supporters from the morning. The supply of Rajanigandha, that is the main flower used for garlands, was hit due to the unseasonal rains recently, resulting in inflated prices.

Pictures: Brinda Sarkar