Less than expected turnout at rally, BJPleaders dejected

Sandeep Rawat

Tribune News Service

Haridwar, June 25

A less than expected turnout at the Shankhnad rally of Amit Shah at the Rishkul ground today belied the claims made by BJP legislators and leaders that around 1.5 lakh people would participate.

Shah was to address the rally at 4 pm but his arrival from the Shivalik BHEL guesthouse was delayed as only a few thousand people were present at the rally venue. He arrived at 5:50 pm though he had reached the guesthouse in the afternoon. Local intelligence personnel and political commentators say there were around 17,000 to 20,000 people at the rally. BJP city legislator Madan Kaushik, Kunwar Pranav Champion, Pradeep Batra and other leaders had claimed that over 1.5 lakh people would take part in the rally. These leaders looked dejected as Shah was visibly unhappy with hundreds of empty chairs at the Rishkul ground.

Former Chief Ministers given place on dais

All four former Chief Ministers were given a place on the dais with party president Amit Shah. Pauri Garhwal parliamentarian BC Khanduri, Haridwar MP Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank and Nainital MP Bhagat Singh Koshyari along with former Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna, who joined the BJP recently, occupied chairs on the dais.

Shah praised all four former Chief Ministers but didn’t say anything about the probable chief ministerial candidate or party’s face for the Assembly elections next year.

Supporters accompanied by musical bands

Many supporters, particularly from rural areas, arrived with musical bands, providing some amusement to people attending the rally in a highly humid weather.

Some tried to shake a leg, annoying BJP leaders. The sound system at the venue was pathetic as the voice from the loudspeakers reverberated and echoed so much that it was hardly understandable. Shah’s speech rarely got a clapping as people could not understood it due to the poor sound system.

Shah’s cavalcade got stuck in traffic jam

Amit Shah had a taste of traffic jams that ordinary people are facing everyday due to a heavy rush of pilgrims and tourists. His security entourage had to be diverted from the Tibdi bypass to posh Vivek Vihar’s inner street to the Ranipur-BHEL Shivalik guesthouse. Vivek Vihar residents were surprised to see vehicles with red lights carrying paramilitary personnel moving speedily through the colony.

Shah’s entourage was also diverted at old Ranipur as the road was closed at a railway crossing due to a passing train.