Rahul gives Congress a much-needed boost

Public response shows party may be down, but not out

The impressive rally by Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi in Sangareddy on Thursday has turned out to be a morale-booster for Telangana Congress, which took a serious beating at the hands of ruling TRS over the past three years due to successive electoral defeats and defection of party MLAs and an MP to the TRS.

Milling crowd, human waves, people along the roads, balconies and rooftops waving Congress flags and chanting Sonia and Rahul’s names were seen in Sangareddy till the meeting ended.

The Congress has put up a show of unity in the meeting. As many as 160 leaders, starting from senior leaders to youth leaders, were given a place on the dais along with Mr Gandhi.

Mr Gandhi said, “The dais shows Congress is not a family party like TRS. We give respect and recognition for all leaders. We are a democratic party. I urge all leaders on the dais and lakhs of activists in the audience to reach out to every household, get closer to them, listen to their problems, tell them how Congress will resolve all their problems if voted to power in 2019. I see a huge force and energy of the party at this place. Utilise this force and energy for the development of Telangana. Only Congress can fulfil the dreams of Telangana people.”

He said Telangana is a land where people face reality and question the mighty. He said Telangana is a land of Makhdoom Mohiuddin who gave famous couplet “Hayat Leke Chalo, Kainat Leke Chalo; Chalo To Zamanay Ko Saath Leke Chalo” (Take along life, take along the world, and when you march, take along the people).

Mr Gandhi asked whether the CM was taking people along. “Is he taking farmers, students, youth, women and backward people or is he taking along only contractors and land mafia,” he said, adding that only one family has been exercising all rights of all elected representatives.