Loyalists flock to AICC meet

Though they put in an attendance, it appeared like Sonia Gandhi’s decision to withdraw her resignation had taken the fizz out of the Congress workers. Banners hung lazily from poles held up by people in the scorching sun.“Nahin chahiye sona chandi, hume chahiye Sonia Gandhi,” the slogans said. Sonia was late, and with every passing minute, the hands holding the banners slackened and the banners lowered.

When she finally arrived, the personnel were energised into a frenzy of action, the culmination of their preparations which began at 4 am today. But Mohan Lal, a coconut seller, did not even look up from his sales. “I made Rs 400 in just two hours. I wish Sonia had taken longer,” he pointed out, as the Congressmen started leaving.

Inside the stadium, a man with a video camera waited for the crowds to settle, then briskly began scanning their faces, beginning with the back rows.

Prominent among those gathered outside were representatives of the Amethi District Congress Committee, the only one to have a full-fledged stall on the way to the venue. “Sonia lao desh bachao, soney ka waqt nahin (Bring back Sonia and save the nation, it is not the time to sleep)” read a banner.

“She will contest from Amethi,” said Kishor Pandit of the local block committee, “And unlike what happened to the Congress the last time, she will win.”

Swaraj Singh Shekhwat from the Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee was sure Pawar and his men would have a limited impact. “They will cut votes in Rajasthan and may make the contest keen for the Congress. But that is about it, no desertions in the state.”

Mahinder Singh More, president of the farmer’s wing of the Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee, however, smelled trouble. “Bhajan Lal may join forces with the Pawar camp, because he has no scope with the HPCC. The HPCC chief, Bhupinder Singh Hooda, is the only leader of some standing from Haryana who is here.”

Arvind Jha from Bihar Pradesh Congress Committee felt sorry for Tariq Anwar. “Each one of the 114 AICC members from Bihar is here. Both Tariq and Sitaram Kesri are out of Bihar for good.”

Piyush Tripathi of the Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee was convinced Mulayam Singh was finished. Mohammed Siddiqui of the UP Minority Cell pointed out: “Mulayam cannot meet Bal Thackeray on one side and also ally with Pawar on the other.”