To stop BJP in its tracks and counter its Mission 44 plus, the State unit of the Congress organised a ‘grand show’ at the MAM stadium in Jammu on Wednesday.
Congress president Sonia Gandhi and chairman of the election campaign committee Ghulam Nabi Azad were expected to infuse fresh confidence among the party cadre to accept the BJP challenge as the campaigning for the last two rounds of polling is at peak.
Ironically, soon after Sonia Gandhi, who arrived more than two hours behind schedule, started addressing the thinly-attended election rally, the people sitting in the front rows ‘hurriedly’ started moving out of the venue.
Red-faced senior Congress leaders present on the stage were left staring at the empty chairs while Congress president was left with no other option but to cut short her speech to avoid further embarrassment.
The Congress supporters were apparently annoyed with the late arrival of the Congress leader and remarks passed by Ghulam Nabi Azad cautioning people sitting in the front row against disturbing media persons doing their duty.
The State Congress leaders including PCC Chief Prof Saif Ud Din Soz, AICC General Secretary Ambika Soni also could not intervene to save the situation from taking an ugly turn. In her brief speech Sonia targeted BJP Government at the Centre is fooling the common masses with tall promises.
She attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi as well and questioned what happened to his claims of bringing back black money and depositing sum of `15 lakh in people’s accounts. She also appealed to the left over crowd to elect Congress candidates in the State Assembly to form stable Government in the State.