Rahul's Delhi rally: AAP, BJP not impressed, Congress sings defensive RaGa

NEW DELHI: Was the poor turnout at Sunday’s Rahul Gandhi rally a sign of Congress’ waning popularity? The BJP is confident that it was an indication of people’s mood. Almost every BJP event on Monday was rife with talks about the Congress “flop show”, and how their PM candidate Narendra Modi was a much bigger crowdpuller.

Chief minister Sheila Dikshit told a news agency that Rahul ’s rally had less crowd because of strict security setup and police’s refusal to allow people to carry water as they waited at the venue. “The security was very tight. People were not allowed to carry water bottle. So they may have been thirsty,” Dikshit said. She also said people who had come early had to wait long and might have left before Rahul started his speech.

“Sheilaji is blaming it on lack of availability of drinking water. But the fact is that there is no water left in Congress party now. Sunday’s rally hascleared alldoubts about people’s preference in the coming elections. BJP is coming to power with two third majority,” said senior leader Nitin Gadkari at an event in which Congress member Trilok Chaudhary joined BJP.

Reacting toCM’sclarification, BJP state president Vijay Goel said, “Dikshit is saying that people left the rally due to unavailability of water. I would like to tell her that the situation is same across the city and soon people will be forced to shift out of Delhi due to water scarcity.”

Most stark attack on the rally came from Harsh Vardhan who said Rahul’s body language shows that he is frustrated and disappointed, and is aware that his ship is sinking. “His speech indicatesthe possibledefeatofhis party in the upcoming elections .ThesocalledfuturePM of Congress party, ShriR ahul Gandhi, made false and misleading statements during his rally,” said Vardhan in an official statement.

At another eventin Eastof Kailash, V K Malhotra said Rahul’s rally hashinted atthe direction in whichthewindis blowing. “In his five minutes speech, Rahulji praised Delhi’s airport saying it is the second best in the world. He should someday step out of the airport and check slums in the city. He should go and see unauthorized colonies, railway platforms and flyovers. If at all Congress wins this time it will be a shock for them as well. How can a party win despite inflation, rising water and power bills andcollapsing infrastructure?”