Devi Lal is INLD’s lucky mascot

The octogenarian is taken to the dais, where he unfurls the party flag to inaugurate the camp before settling down in a sofa to address the workers. Flanked by his son, Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala, and Finance Minister Sampat Singh, Devi Lal starts off softly,asking the workers to create awareness about the steps taken for the welfare of people.

"Hamne budhon ka ghanna khayal rakha aur unne di janne wali pension ko dugni kar diya hai. Issi tarha hamnain daliton ke beetion ke byah khatr paise dene ki yojana chalai hai (We have taken care of the old and doubled their pension. We have launched a scheme to financially help dalits to marry off their daughters)", he pointed out.

In his ten-minute speech, he is barely audible, with the disturbance caused by the inferior quality speakers making things worse. The peasant leader realises this and saying that "main kabhi sher ki tarhan dahada karoon tha par aab main bhi budaah ho chala hoon (I used to roar like a lion, but now I am old)". But this does not seem to make any difference to the crowd, which remains attentive throughout.

Once, he finishes, Inder Singh, MP from the Rohtak constituency, grabs the mike to talk about the need for discipline in the party. He asks party workers to go by the directions of theirleaders, warning them of strict action in case of defiance. The main audience is somewhat attentive, but Devi Lal seems lost and leaves for the nearby state-owned guest house for some rest.