NEW DELHI, November 21: The Gandhis, mother, son and bahurani, are climbing on to the Capital's walls once again. Martyrdom is the flavour of the moment, as posters in yellow, orange and green whip up an old grief to fuel soaring new expectations.One poster bore a stylish line sketch of Rajiv Gandhi and proclaimed sadly that all Indians are ashamed that they are alive while Rajiv is dead. Another in garish hues had a dimpling Sonia and the legend: Congress is heading towards a new direction.Grief/ hope. Past/ present. Indira-Rajiv/ Sonia. If there are elections tomorrow, this in sum will constitute the Congress Party's election manifesto.Already a few buses from the jhuggis that line Delhi's north-western fringes are doing their rounds with crowds shouting at regular intervals: Rajiv ke haatiyaron ko phaansi do, phaansi do.The cause is never allowed to be forgotten. Outside the AICC offices on 24, Akbar Road this afternoon there was a curious tableau-on-wheels at the gates of the AICC building, put up by an organisation with the rather dubious name of All India Bhrashtachar Virodhi Morcha (AIBVM - crusade against corruption).It bore a tricolour on one side and a black flag on the other and carried fearsome looking effigies of LTTE's Prabhakaran, DMK's Karunanidhi, Chandraswami and V P Singh. But amidst the usual suspects was a face that bore a distinct resemblance to Narasimha Rao, the man who had presided over the party's fortunes just a few months ago.As if reading the question, Parshotam Vinayak, president AIBVM, rushed in with an explanation. ``We hold him fully responsible for hiding the truth about our dearest Rajiv's death,'' he said.Simple. If heroines have to be built up, others will have to be demonised. Rao then was clearly in the line of fire, even as songs coming through megaphones strategically turned in the direction of 10, Janpath, entreated Soniaji to lead the way.How much of the mood was genuine and how much orchestrated was hard to say. But when the small pockets of men and women seated on the lawns of the AICC offices, eating their meagre repast of puri and sabzi, were asked what they felt, at least ten voices broke out into hyperbolic praise for Soniaji.They have an answer for every question. Can a woman lead the party? ``If Indiraji could do it, why not Sonia?'' asked Shanti Bhatia, a Congress worker from Mongolpuri. Can an Italian lead the party? ``Daughters have no nation but that of their husbands. She is our bahu,'' said her neighbour, Kishen Singh. And added the clincher: ``Besides, she has borne two children for Rajivji.''But will the lady agree to stand? ``She will hear the cry of our hearts and agree,'' said yet another Mongolpuri resident.There is absolutely no doubt in their minds that if Sonia leads the Congress it will become ``top-class'' again. ``I will give it to you in writing,'' said Kishen Singh, who seemed to have a taste for theatrics.
