"Of the four constituencies in the region, only one went to a right candidate. Rahulbhaiyya has nurtured the constituency so well, that he would have won. And if the right candidates had been fielded, it would have been an even battle in the other two constituencies too. Now we have not only handed the BJP victory on a platter, but also have made ourselves look like utter fools," the insider points out.

The crushed morale of Congress cadres is evident in the manner in which the BJP has been rubbing it in with glee. Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan tells meetings: 'If this is the plight of Arjun Singh in the Congress, imagine what will happen to the common man?'

And in the constituency itself, in a show of false sympathy, BJP workers tell their Congress friends that it would have been a tough battle had Ajay contested. "So in effect what we have is a confused and demoralised support base," concludes the Congress insider.

Watching Veena address a rally in Sidhi, the determination to prove herself is evident. But that is also accompanied by a sense of uncertainty. When she finishes her measured and deliberate speech delivered in the Riwain dialect, she forgets to switch off the microphone and asks her husband, "Theek boli na? (Did I speak well?)."

Embarrassment is avoided as a youngster from the crowd quickly shouts back: "Bahut badhiya boli (you spoke very well)."

Image: Voters at Veena Singh's election meeting in Sidhi.

Also watch: A Congress leader's assessment | Coverage: India Votes 2009

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