Delhi Polls: Crowd at Rahul Gandhi rally shows cautious approach

NEW DELHI: In 2013, Congress organized a mega rally as a show of strength at Shastri Park in the midst of constituencies panning the east and northeastern belt of the city. Sonia Gandhi addressed that show flanked by Sheila Dikshit, the face of the party, by her side. The crowds came but did not convert to votes with the party ending up a poor third after BJP and AAP. Of the eight seats Congress won in December 2013, three — Seelampur, Mustafabad and Gandhi Nagar — lie around the rally venue.

Desperately seeking revival, the new leadership line-up in Delhi presented party vice president Rahul Gandhi at the same venue on Thursday to showcase the pro-poor agenda of Congress. Present on the dais with Gandhi were poll campaign chairman Ajay Maken, DPCC chief Arvinder Singh, all contestants from assembly seats of east and northeast, including contenders from minority-dominated Seelampur and Mustafabad.

Like the Rahul Gandhi roadshow in Kalkaji, this time too the leadership anxiously watched the crowd to judge the swell and the response. While party members cited the crowd's response as positive, the show of support was marked by much caution. People responded to questions raised by Rahul on water, power and corruption, but there was no deafening cheer. The dream of cheaper power, water, regular jobs and shelter for all was absorbed with caution.

The choice of venue is strategic for Congress and a Rahul Gandhi rally is the party's way to build confidence among minority voters. Gandhi's assertion on stability and communal harmony was aimed at instilling confidence in the minority vote bank which holds the key to the contest.

When TOI spoke to some in the crowd, people seemed keen to hear but not necessarily sure of voting for Congress. Basanti Devi, who came from Shastri Park area, said, "I will listen to everyone but make up my mind on the day of polling. I will follow my heart and press the button," she said as others nodded in agreement.