Thread by @gauravsabnis

Dems definitely holding the House from what I'm seeing. That is going to shake the GOP so much!

Methinks 219-216, but it's very much likely that Dems will have 1 seat majorities in both the chambers.

As we would day in Pune, the Republicans parrot has occurred.

If Democrats keep both chambers like I feel and have talked about from the start, it will mean something so much more on a personal level this time, especially given how much @k_rupal worked in swing districts. We really participated a lot in this election, not just watched.

This is also the first election I approached with the knowledge that "predicting" elections is just an entertainment product for TV & social media.

Democracy is a participation sport. You don't predict. You campaign and you volunteer and you get out the vote until the last sec.

Most people, other than voting, think of themselves as exogenous to the political system. But we are its components. If you start off saying months in advance, oh Dems will lose, oh BJP will keep winning... Then you are basically campaigning FOR them.

So yeah, you can make snide comments about those who volunteer or tut tut the #BharatJodoYatra with a pessimistic "oh Modi only will win, I am telling you" 2 years in advance, then as we say in Hindi, are you a human or are you a pyjama?

BJP wins by superior GOTV. That's it!

BJP still has a ceiling of 40% in even their biggest wins. At least Democrats have a demographic plurality in US. BJP coalition is of the elites.

But they work like crazy at grassroots levels, literally strategizing on a per-page of voter rolls.

Among my friends in the US who are Democrats and politically interested, there are sooo many who volunteer, even more who donate in large amounts.

Among my friends in India who are non sanghi, it's mainly just criticizing Rahul, Mamta, Uddhav, as if criticizing an athlete.

I know less than a handful of people in India who actually hit the streets and make a difference during campaigns or political upheaval.

I miss @surekha. She was one. Went to #CAA protest to be fake mom for detained youths. At great risk to personal safety.

I was very impressed with the @dccc app we used when we went door to door. Also the very clear strategy. Changing by day, looking at the map and other cues. Some days, just visit Dems and remind them. Other days, try to sway independents.

Never went to a GOP house.

Our heroine craved instant ramen & wok tossed egg. This is one of those things REALLY elevated by a quick toss in the wok.

Btw this quite literally takes me just 5 minutes or less to make. Should do a video next time.

This was really the perfect fried egg on top of the ramen. A candidate she knocked doors for saying where she knocked doors was crucial in him getting a narrow win. That satisfaction, that's why my anxiety has been very low this election.

https://twitter.com/k_rupal/status/1590714068448743425?t=GIfFG1xnwX9D8UEvhx6-Mg&s=19