22 April,2010 07:49 AM IST | | Surender Sharma
BJP's anti-inflation rally in Delhi was quite a spectacle despite traffic snarls and torrid heat
Over three lakh people joined Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) chief Nitin Gadkari in Delhi in a major show of strength over spiralling prices. The rally was high on adrenaline, but low on glucose. The temperature, which hovered well above 42 degrees Celsius, proved as hostile to the saffron party as the voters were to the prime ministerial aspirations of LK Advani in the 2009 general elections.
Sea of supporters: A huge police contingent around the rath carrying
top BJP leaders and a sea of rally supporters; PICs/IMTIYAZ KHAN
The sweltering heat though did not deter over three lakh BJP workers from gathering at the Ram Lila Ground in central Delhi. However, the traffic chaos caused by the rally also prevented more than 50,000 supporters from joining the demonstration as they remained stranded in different parts of the city.
It was the first show of strength by newly-elected party chief Gadkari and was attended by all senior party leaders, including Advani and BJP chief ministers like Shivraj Singh Chauhan and Raman Singh. However, party's posterboy Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi was conspicuous in his absence.
After the party leadership addressed the gathering in the huge rally ground, surrounded by the business district of Daryaganj, the historic Ajmeri Gate and the newly-constructed and hurriedly-inaugurated MCD civic centre, the crowd moved towards the Parliament.
A heavy contingent of Delhi Police, CRPF and ITBP jawans were waiting for the half a million crowd to be safely escorted to their destination. At some places, the men in uniform were seen far outnumbering those waving flags.
Sushma Swaraj, LK Advani and Nitin Gadkari (right) at the Ram Lila
Ground before addressing the Mehangai rally in New Delhi on Wednesday
All the leaders, including Gadkari, were mounted on a tractor-driven rath. But, the torrid heat proved a little too much for the Marathi manoos and he blacked out. His party colleagues rushed to Gadkari's rescue and he was given water and a wet towel was placed over his head after which he courted arrest.
Saffron School of Management
It was not just the senior leaders who were treated well but arrangements were in place for the participants too. MiD DAY reported on Wednesday how the party was managing the delegates who started converging on the city two days ahead of the event. More than 20 lakh water pouches were made available to the supporters and after the rally was over, even food was distributed. Apart from this, several lakh caps were made available to the protesters to save them from the scorching sun.
From party workers to the veteran L K Advani, everyone went gaga over the management of the rally by Gadkari. "I have attended hundreds of rallies. But this rally is the best I have ever seen," said Akhilesh Kumar who had come from Moradabad in UP.
The BJP said they spent around Rs 4 crore on the rally apart from the expenses which were borne by other state units.
Sushma on the run
As the leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj has hundreds of people - party workers, politicians and media - chasing her.u00a0
But the tables were turned upon her when she got down from the stage in the rally ground and moved towards the rath along with other party leaders.
However, her colleagues proved more athletic than her and boarded the vehicle much before she could reach and the driver was in a hurry. As he pressed the accelerator, Swaraj was seen running after the rath along with her Rajya Sabha counterpart Arun Jaitley.u00a0 The latter, who incidentally is also the chief of DDCA, proved a better runner but he ensured that Swaraj did not miss the bus after all.
Down but not out: Torrid Delhi heat blacked out BJP president Nitin
Gadkari at the Ram Lila Ground in Delhi on Wednesday PIC/IMTIYAZ KHAN
Gadkari - The High-flier
He had a questionnaire ready for the government. But when he was firing the salvos against the Congress, a strong gust of wind intervened.u00a0u00a0
The elements seemed to be working against Gadkari and for a few moments he seemed to be at a loss.
The incident triggered a frenzy among the foot soldiers of the party who were seen running helter skelter after the papers and within minutes they were back withu00a0 their leader. After all loyalty counts for something!
Pulling out all stops
The rally hit traffic movement across central Delhi with Ring Road, Mathura Road, India Gate, Tilak Marg, Asaf Ali Road, Tolstoy Marg, Sikandra Road, Barakhamba Road, Parliament Street and Ashoka Road being the worst affected.
Later in the evening,u00a0 Nitin Gadkariu00a0 apologised to Delhiites. " I personally apologise on behalf of the BJP to the people of Delhi, NCR (National Capital Region) and the neighbouring states for the inconvenience caused to them due to the traffic disruptions during the rally," Gadkari said.
Queen's on her way
The blue blood that runs in the veins of former Rajasthan chief minister Vashundhara Raje Scindia is still as royal as it was when she was at the helm of the desert state. Her distinct coterie of supporters kept chatting to her all along the way.u00a0
In fact, when all other leaders got down near the Zakir Hussain College, a stone's throw away from the rally ground, to court arrest, she took her own time and was the last to de-board the vehicle.
