Pulling out all stops in an open pickup truck, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi led a huge roadshow on Thursday in Sultanpur constituency of North-West Delhi. Thousands of enthusiastic supporters jostled to have a glimpse of the Congress Veep, as he passed through the streets of the constituency. Attempting a better contact with the supporters, Rahul also gave autographs on party merchandises as party workers thronged him.
During the roadshow, supporters offered him scarves, which he sported for a while. On his arrival, Rahul was welcomed with a traditional pink saafa (turban) and chants like Rahul 2.0IJ and Abki Baar Gandhi Ki Aandhi rent the air as Rahul’s cavalcade passed.
A huge gathering of people came out of their homes to watch the Gandhi scion as he waved to people from his vehicle. The roadshow started from Shani Market Block G and culminated at B-2 Sultanpur Majra.
Workers of Youth Congress and NSUI, which Rahul has nurtured for many years, were quite enthusiastic. Towards the end of the roadshow, which lasted for about four hours, Rahul also savoured samosas and mithai. The party, which had felt the pinch of thin crowd in Rahul’s rallies in the last Assembly polls, had apparently pulled up its socks this time.
The Congress vice-president was received by a large crowd waving Congress flags in the resettlement colony, which has elected the party’s Jaikishan to the Delhi legislature for four consecutive terms.
Rahul Gandhi’s style of campaigning and roadshow triggered feelings of nostalgia among the elderly, who said his speech and mannerisms evoked memories of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
Septuagenarian Kanta Prasad, an avowed Gandhi family fan, said, “Rahul riding the open vehicle and balancing delicately on the footbard triggered memories of Mrs Gandhi”. According to Congress’ poll managers, a roadshow by Rahul Gandhi will impact Sultanpuri, Mangolpuri, Madipur and Bawana constituencies.