Celebration time for Congress

Supporters feel Rahul Gandhi changed the game for the Congress

Akash Bisht Delhi Hardnews

Guddi Panditani, 65, left her house as early as 8 am today as soon as she saw the news channels predicting a clean sweep by the Congress party in the 15th Lok Sabha elections. She soon called all her comrades of the Nehru brigade to meet her outside AICC headquarters at 24, Akbar Road. Since then, she and her colleagues have been singing, dancing, and shouting slogans in support of the Congress. Even at the end of the day, she doesn't look tired. She says she is so happy that she can continue doing this for the entire night. "Congress ab desh ko phir se chamkayegi aur iska sabse zyaada faayda gareeb aadmi ko hoga (Congress will again rule the country and it will benefit the poor most)". Her colleagues, dressed in colourful clothes with tricolour props, unanimously agreed. They have been dancing outside the AICC headquarters since morning.

The mood outside the AICC was upbeat and a huge crowd of Congress supporters had gathered singing Jai ho in unison. People were in a frenzy when the drums arrived. People could be seen hugging each other and talking of how Rahul Gandhi has changed the entire game for the Congress. "Rahul Gandhi should be named the prime minister after a couple of years and then Congress can come to power all by itself," said Ashok Gupta, a Congress supporter.

Similar views were echoed by most of the supporters gathered outside. However, a group of Sikh supporters, dancing with joy, said that the decision of making Manmohan Singh the prime minister and sticking by him has gone down well with people. "Sonia Gandhi buried the ghost of 1984 riots by choosing Manmohan as PM. These results are yet another proof of the good work that he is done," said Inder Singh of Baljeet Nagar in New Delhi.

Inside the AICC office, the mood was that of celebration and sweets were generously distributed. A broad smile was on the face of everyone present, especially party workers. They all spoke how Rahul Gandhi had single-handedly got Congress a victory. Several foreign correspondents could be seen hanging outside the AICC clicking pictures of women and children celebrating despite the scorching heat.

Valeria Fraschetti, an Italian freelance journalist, could be seen interacting with women, kids and party workers outside the AICC office. She was in awe of how victory was being celebrated in this heat. On being asked about how much it matters to her as Sonia Gandhi is also of Italian descent, she told Hardnews, "We are concerned about the Congress as Sonia Gandhi is its president. However, even Sonia considers herself as Indian and we think the same. It's great to see that she is loved so much by the people here."

Meanwhile, as the Congress numbers kept swelling, the celebrations increased multi-fold with supporters chanting slogans in praise of the Gandhi family and Manmohan Singh. Sound of firecrackers rented the air and chants of Jai Ho resonated on Akbar Road. "I came barefoot as I heard the news that Congress will again form the government. This is a Jai Ho of the aam aadmi," said Kamlesh Rao, a Congress supporter.