For an optimist, it seemed like a fantastic political premiere. Congressmen, old and young, turned out in their Sunday best on a wet Sunday to welcome the new set of party leaders for Uttar Pradesh.
For an optimist, it seemed like a fantastic political premiere. Congressmen, old and young, turned out in their Sunday best on a wet Sunday to welcome the new set of party leaders for Uttar Pradesh.
Slogans cheering the leaders rent the air at the Lucknow airport where the traffic remained jammed for almost three hours.
After several years, one could see excitement and enthusiasm palpable among party workers.
The newly appointed UPCC president Raj Babbar emerged as a clear favourite with the crowds jostling for a glimpse of the actor-turned politician.
Mr Babbar, for the first time, donned a kurta pyjama and climbed atop a SUV to wave out to the crowds. Majority of the top party leaders from UP accompanied UPCC president Mr Babbar and the party’s chief ministerial candidate Ms Dikshit from Delhi while party workers poured in from all parts of the state to witness the historic change.
“The mood in the Congress has suddenly turned upbeat and even the common man has started talking about the party. They felt that the changes in leadership indicate that the party is now seriously working towards a comeback in UP,” said former MP Ram Singh.
Vishwavijay Singh, a young party leader from Gorakhpur, was equally enthusiastic and said that the ‘achche din’ have finally arrived for the Congress.
“Since the past one week, people are actually talking about the Congress. Earlier, they would just dismiss the party’s prospects. If we work hard enough, the Congress could emerge as a game changer in the 2017 assembly polls”, he said.
Shafiqur Rehman, who had come from Muzaffarnagar, said that the Congress could now provide a secular alternative and win over upper caste and minorities.
“The fight in Uttar Pradesh will now be four-cornered and SP and BSP will have a tough time retaining their support base among Muslims”, he explained.
Meanwhile, hundreds of cars and buses blocked the entire 15 km route from the airport to the UPCC headquarters while hoardings and banners welcomed the new set of leaders.
The UPCC office also wore a festive look and the economy around the building — tea stall, paan shops, and coffee stalls — did brisk business all through the day.
